Rediscovery of Assam's Daojali Hading site unveils iron elements & 2,700-yr-old artefacts
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The rediscovery of the site, which was first excavated in the 1960s, has led to a breakthrough: the discovery of iron elements for the first time, potentially marking it as the earliest known site with evidence of iron use in the northeast.
The reconnaissance survey, which took place during March and April, happened around 5-6km away from the commercial town of Langting along the NH 27 route. It unearthed artefacts that included a double shouldered Celt — a chiselled stone tool — chord marked potteries, pastels-mortars, a polished stone arrowhead, and more which dated around 2,700 years old.
"The range of domestic and utilitarian artefacts confirms the importance of this region, as it is an important archaeological site of the state, which indicates signs of early human population, likely by the Austroasiatic speaking communities, who were among the early settlers, based on archaeological and linguistic data. These discoveries collectively offer valuable insights into the region's prehistoric lithic and emerging metallurgical traditions," said Shring Dao Langthasa, one of the archaeologists, who had led the survey.
Among the assemblage, an iron slag and other ferruginous (containing iron ore) materials, were found for the first time. "Until now, the earliest scientifically dated evidence of iron usage in the region came from Meghalaya, estimated to be around 2,300 years old. However, items currently undergoing testing in Dima Hasao district may predate this. If the dates are confirmed, it could mean that the first traces of iron usage in India were discovered in Dima Hasao.
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...," he said.
It is one of the eight Neolithic sites identified in the region — Daojali Hading and Sarutaru from Assam, while the others sites are from Meghalaya, two from Manipur, one from Arunachal, and one from Nagaland. "Early findings revealed that the site had ties to other eastern and southeast Asia, likely through ancient trade networks. The discovery of jadeite stones, also found in China and uniquely discovered from Daojali Hading supports the theory," Shring Dao Langthasa said
The team involved Shring Dao Langthasa and Bhubanjoy Langthasa of the department of archaeology in collaboration with Bidisha Bordoloi, District Museum officer, along with professors Sukanya Sharma and Marco Mitri.
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