Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

Assam’s Charaideo Moidam included in UNESCO World Heritage List

Prelims Only | History and Art & Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Charaideo Moidam, UNESCO World Heritages

Why in the News?

The Charaideo Moidams, a unique 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty from Assam, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

About Charaideo Moidams

  • The Charaideo moidams represents the late medieval (13th-19th century CE) mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahom community in Assam.
    • Charaideo, more than 400 km east of Guwahati, was the first capital of the Ahom dynasty founded by Chao Lung Sukaphaa in 1253.
  • The Ahoms preferred to place the deceased family members at Charaideo where the first king Sukapha was laid to rest.
  • The historical chronicles inform that wives, attendants, pet animals and huge quantity of valuables were buried with the departed kings.
  • After 18th century, the Ahom rulers adopted the Hindu method of cremation and began entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Maidam at Charaideo.
  • Out of 386 Maidams explored so far, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, representative of and the most complete examples of mound burial tradition of the Ahoms.

Architecture details:

  • Architecturally it comprises a massive underground vault with one or more chambers having domical superstructure.
  • It is covered by a heap of earthen mound and externally it appears a hemispherical mound.
  • At the top of the mound, a small open pavilion chow-chali is provided.
  • An octagonal dwarf wall encloses whole maidam.

Significance of this addition:

  • Moidams has become the 43rd property from India to be included in the UNESCO List.
  • India now stands at the 6th position globally for the most number of World Heritage Properties.
  • The Moidams are the first site from the North East to be recognized as a World Heritage Site in the cultural category.
  • Assam has 2 other World Heritage Sites in the natural category: Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park, both upgraded to tiger reserves.

Who were the Ahoms?

  • The Ahom, also known as the Tai-Ahom, are an ethnic group from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in India.
  • This ethnic group is made up of interbred descendants of the Tai people, who first came to Assam’s Brahmaputra valley in 1228, and indigenous people who later joined them.
  • The current Ahom people and culture are a mix of the ancient Tai people and culture, as well as indigenous Tibeto-Burman people and cultures that they assimilated in Assam.
  • Sukaphaa, the Tai group’s leader, and his 9000 supporters founded the Ahom empire (1228–1826 CE), which ruled over part of modern-day Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley until 1826.
  • It retained sovereignty for 600 years until annexed by British India in 1826 (Treaty of Yandaboo).
  • Lachit Borphukan (1622-1672) is the most celebrated ruler of Ahom Dynasty.

Back2Basics: UNESCO World Heritage Sites 

Aspect

Details
Definition Sites of outstanding cultural or natural value to humanity, are protected under the UNESCO Convention of 1972.
Classification
  1. Cultural Heritage Sites: Historic buildings, archaeological sites, monumental sculptures/paintings.
  2. Natural Heritage Sites: Unique geologic processes, rare phenomena, habitats for endangered species.
  3. Mixed Heritage Sites: Both natural and cultural significance.
Benefits
  • Raises awareness for conservation
  • Provides technical assistance and training
  • Encourages local participation
  • Boosts tourism
  • Offers financial aid and expert advice for preservation
Criteria for Declaration Cultural Criteria:

  • Human creative genius
  • Interchange of human values
  • Testimony to cultural tradition
  • Significant stage in human history
  • Traditional human settlement
  • Associated with significant events/traditions

Natural Criteria:

  • Natural beauty and aesthetic importance
  • Earth’s history and geological processes
  • Ecological and biological processes
  • Biodiversity and conservation

 

PYQ:

[2021] Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.

(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.

(c) Pandu-lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.

(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.

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