Aizawl: Archaeologists have discovered human skeletal remains estimated to be over 700 years old in a remote Mizoram cave, a find that challenges established timelines of Mizo settlement and promises to reshape the region’s historical narrative, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) announced Tuesday.
The remains – including nine skulls, femurs, and other bones – were unearthed in an elevated cave within Thingkhuang forest near North Khawlek village in Saitual district, close to the Manipur border.
Carbon dating conducted in the United States confirms the bones date between 1260 CE and 1320 CE, making them the oldest skeletal remains ever found in Mizoram.
“This discovery shatters previous records and forces us to fundamentally reconsider Mizo history,” stated Rin Sanga, Convenor of INTACH’s Mizoram chapter and a retired IAS officer.
“The evidence suggests human presence here centuries earlier than the widely accepted theory placing Mizo entry into the region around 1700 CE.”
The find significantly predates the previous oldest known remains, discovered at Vangchhia in Champhai district, which date to 1485 CE – a gap of approximately 200 years.
Archaeologist Vanlalhuma Singson from the state Art and Culture Department detailed the discovery.
A local hunter first stumbled upon the site on January 11, 2024, prompting local leaders to alert INTACH.
A joint team from INTACH and the state department, including Singson, reached the difficult-to-access cave (1,228 meters above sea level in a gorge) on May 2.
Alongside the bones, researchers recovered ancient artifacts including a ‘dao’ (traditional machete), a knife, and fragments of pottery.
“This site offers an unprecedented window into Mizoram’s ancient past,” Singson explained. “The preservation and associated artifacts provide a rare opportunity to understand the lives of these early inhabitants.”
INTACH emphasized the need for comprehensive further study. “We are committed to an in-depth examination of these remains,” Sanga said.
“Plans include DNA sequencing to determine the origins and lineage of these individuals, potentially revealing new connections within the broader story of human migration in Northeast India.”
The discovery marks a pivotal moment for Mizoram’s historiography, with researchers anticipating it will catalyse a major reassessment of the region’s early history and cultural development.
