Neolithic habitation found in Assam's Dima Hasao
The discovery of a furnace and iron slag, indicating metallurgical activities, has provided 'substantial support' for earlier hypotheses that Daojali Hading was a major prehistoric settlement in the northeastern part of India.
These artefacts were among several found by a multidisciplinary team during a recent archaeological reconnaissance survey at Daojali Hading on the ridges within the Langting-Mupa Reserve Forest off National Highway 27. The team was led by Shring Dao Langthasa and Bhubanjoy Langthasa of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council's (NCHAC) Department of Archaeology.
Bidisha Bordoloi, heading the District Museum in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao, about 340 km from Guwahati, collaborated in the survey, while Sukanya Sharma of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and Marco Mitri of Shillong's North Eastern Hill University provided expert guidance.
The Langting-Mupa Reserve Forest has long been recognised for its Neolithic significance. The Daojali Hading site in the vicinity was uncovered during the construction of the Lumding-Haflong Road in the 1960s, leading to systematic excavations from 1962 to 1964 by professors T.C. Sharma and M.C. Goswami of the Gauhati University's Department of Anthropology.
These investigations revealed polished double-shouldered celts, cord-marked pottery, mortars and pestles, besides jadeite stone, confirming the site's neolithic affiliation. The unearthed artefacts linked the site with the broader Eastern and Southeastern Asian Neolithic cultural complex.
Past buried by road
The findings, however, did not stop the road construction work over the excavated area. The road damaged a large part of the site, virtually burying Dima Hasao's neolithic past.
Prof Sharma revisited the site in 1985 for further investigations. The new survey was undertaken by following his cues.
The team recovered a significant assemblage of cord-marked and low-fired potsherds, grinding and polishing stones, and polished stone tools, indicative of a potential settlement. This was followed up by laying four trial trenches.
'The reconnaissance survey yielded a rich assemblage of artefacts, which were reported earlier, such as polished double-shouldered celts, cord-marked pottery, grinding stones, mortars, pestles, and double-edged celts,' Dr Shring Langthasa said.
'However, iron slag and other ferruginous materials were identified for the first time. Additionally, a polished arrowhead, hafted celts, miniature adzes, broken tools, unfinished flakes, and charcoal samples were recovered,' he told The Hindu.
While some trenches offered only contextual data, others produced significant finds such as limestone deposits, iron slag, and ferruginous materials, indicating early metalworking activities. The presence of both finished and unfinished lithic tools highlighted technological diversity and on-site tool production, offering valuable insights into the region's prehistoric lithic and emerging metallurgical traditions.
More research sought
Further exploration of the site led to the discovery of a furnace accompanied by iron slag — strong evidence of early metallurgical activity, the archaeologists said.
These ferruginous materials are being studied at the Department of Geology of Gauhati University. The testing and analysis of artefacts, soil, and other collected samples are being conducted at the Archaeological Sciences Laboratory in IIT, Guwahati.
A statement from the team said the findings indicate that Daojali Hading was more than just a lithic production site. 'The range of domestic and utilitarian artefacts confirms that it was a settled neolithic habitation zone, a conclusion that aligns with earlier interpretations but lacked definitive proof until now,' it said.
The team said that the site stands as a crucial marker of prehistoric community life in India's northeast. It called for more research, including radiocarbon dating of organic remains and comparative studies with other Neolithic sites in the region.
The team thanked NCHAC's Chief Executive Member, Debolal Gorlosa, and Executive Member for Cultural Affairs, Monjit Naiding, for supporting the survey as a heritage conservation project. Among the team members was Sudip Kemprai, who interpreted old maps to find the site.
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