Kavachuah Roputhe Heritage Site

Why in discussion?

Recently, scientists have been talking about adopting a lost civilization in Mizoram to reduce the increasing conflicts in the world for water in view of the climatic changes and climatic conditions, which can turn the rocks into hidden reservoirs in contrasting conditions. May be important in conserving water.

key points

• In 2016, a ‘Living History Museum’ was discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India-ASI in Vangchhia, a village in Champhai district of Mizoram, bordering Myanmar. . Which was named Kawtchhuah Ropuithe Heritage Site.
• The Kavachuah Roputhe heritage site is the first site of Mizoram under the protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India. Which has been venerated for many generations by the local people here.
• 260 km from Aizawl. Situated at a distance of about 45 sq km. The area is wide, with large stone slabs, menhirs (large and standing stones), and a necropolis (Necropolis – a large cemetery) and pictograms painted in between the artifacts.
• This region is part of the lower Himalayas and has rows of different types of sandstone hills of light brown and black color.

Potential art of water harvesting

• It seems that in ancient times the people of Wangchia had carved these rocks for their settlement. 15 such areas have been found at the main excavated site.

 

• Among the most significant discoveries made by archaeologists are the water pavilions (holes ranging from one foot to one meter made by cutting stones) among the stones found here, which are spread over many sandstone slopes.
• Researchers at ASI reported that gray sandstone is suitable for holes, while hard black rock is used for meninges.
• According to studies conducted by researchers at the Wangchia site over the years, this methodology seems to be a simple science for water harvesting, proven several centuries ago that local populations can use for at least a year.
• The most notable topic is how the rain water has been stopped by those people in the rocks here, so that water can accumulate inside the rocks.
• So far archaeologists have not been able to trace the exact location of the Wangchia township as the ruins found here were estimated to be of the 15th century, when the site was excavated three years ago. Later the Birbal Sahni Institute described it as 6th century.

Conclusion

• More recently, Neolithic caves were discovered near Wangchia in search of answers to earlier unanswered questions by the ASI team, indicating that this lost civilization may be even older.
• Convenor of Mizoram Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Mizoram Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage reported that these archaeological remains are not limited to Wangchia or Champhai district but at least four And the major sites are – Farcon, Dungtlung, Lianpui, and Lunghunian, where large excavations have so far been done with hundreds of menhirs and pictographs that tell stories of a forgotten past.

Source – The Hindu