Naga heritage traced back to 50 B.C.

Dimapur (Nagaland), December 28 (ANI): Scientists have carried out the radiocarbon dating of archaeological sites from New Phor, Movolomi and Khusomi in Nagaland, which have further 'pushed back' the antiquity of Naga ancestral sites as early as 50 BC.

According to a report in the Morung Express, the radiocarbon dating was done by scientists at The Beta Analytic Inc. in Miami, United States.

"The calibrated dates assigned to the sites were as per scientifically accepted procedures using Calibration Database INTCAL 04 Radio Carbon Age Calibration, said Dr. Anungla Aier and Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir of Anthropological Society of Nagaland.

"The sample from New Phor, dated to Cal BC 50 - Cal AD 90, thus far offers the earliest radiocarbon date for the Naga ancestral sites archaeologically investigated, while new radiocarbon dates for Khusomi gives a date of Cal AD1320-1350 and Movolomi dated to Cal AD1420-1640," they said.

"All charcoal samples analyzed are reported from the lowest earth layers of the sites," they added.

It was further stated that the archaeological investigations carried out so far is part of a larger research project that has embarked on the analysis of the archaeological evidences side by side with the 'folkloristic, ethnographic and anthropometric data.'

These radiocarbon dates are significant not only for furthering the understanding of the cultural history and migration of the Nagas, but will also provide insights to past social and cultural interactions between Naga communities.

"In this endeavor, we solicit the continued cooperation of the various Naga communities as the work progresses," the researchers said. (ANI)