Guwahati, Sept 3: In a rare archaeological breakthrough, human skeletal remains dating back to the 13th century have been unearthed in Mizoram’s Saitual district, offering fresh insights into the state’s early history and ancestral roots.
The discovery was first made in January this year, when villagers of Khawlek stumbled upon a hidden cave deep inside the Thingkhuang forest. Inside, they found nine skulls and several scattered bones lying undisturbed for centuries. The villagers later handed over the remains to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Mizoram Chapter.
On May 2, a team of experts led by archaeologist Vanlalhuma Singson of the Art & Culture Department, along with Dr. Laltlanhlua, Assistant Professor at HATIM, Lunglei, visited the site under an INTACH initiative in collaboration with the department. Located between Vanbawng and North Khawlek village at an altitude of 1,228 metres, the cave was carefully surveyed and samples were collected for testing.
The bones were subsequently sent to the Beta Analytic Laboratory in Miami, USA, one of the world’s leading radiocarbon dating facilities. Test results confirmed that the skeletal remains date back to between 1260 AD and 1320 AD—over 700 years ago.
Experts say the find is of immense significance in tracing the origins and migration history of the Mizos. “This discovery is a milestone. It offers crucial insights into the origin and migration patterns of our people,” an INTACH official said.
Moving ahead, the INTACH Mizoram Chapter, in collaboration with the state’s Art & Culture Department and Mizoram University, plans to conduct DNA sequencing on the remains. Researchers hope this will help identify the individuals and unravel more details about Mizoram’s ancestral heritage.
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