1. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended Assam’s ‘Moidams’ for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2. ‘Moidams’, burial mounds from the Ahom dynasty, will be reviewed at the 46th World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi.
3. The session will take place from July 21-31.
Guwahati, July 20: The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended Assam’s ‘Moidams’ for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The ‘Moidams’, mound-burial sites from the Ahom dynasty, will be reviewed at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi from July 21-31.
Janhwij Sharma of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) confirmed that ‘Moidams’ meet the criteria for a UNESCO heritage tag. If accepted, it will be the first cultural property from Northeast India to receive this recognition.
These unique burial mounds, used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty, are characterized by pyramid-like structures. The nomination was submitted for the 2023-24 cycle.
Vishal V Sharma, chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, highlighted the significance of this potential recognition.
The session in Delhi will also feature various cultural events and exhibitions, curated by the Ministry of Tourism and other ministries. The Maharashtra government has planned models of forts related to Chhatrapati Shivaji. The event will see participation from over 2,000 delegates from more than 150 countries.
The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum and the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum will also be held, focusing on heritage conservation and management.
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According to the UNESCO website, ‘Moidams’ are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double-storied, with an arched passage for entry. Atop the hemispherical mud mounds, layers of bricks and earth are laid.
The base is reinforced by a polygonal toe wall and an arched gateway on the west.
“Eventually, the mound would be covered by a layer of vegetation, reminiscent of a group of hillocks, transforming the area into an undulating landscape,” the description of ‘moidams’ added.
Excavations show each vaulted chamber has a centrally raised platform where the body was laid.
Several objects used by the deceased during life, such as royal insignia, wooden, ivory, or iron objects, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, clothes, and even human beings (only from the Luk-kha-khun clan), were buried with their king.
