Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared Lianpui menhirs in Champhai district, Mizoram as a Monument of National Importance. Formal notification was issued by the Ministry of Culture after years of research, inspection, and statutory procedures under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. This is the second megalith site in Mizoram to be nationally recognized, after Kawtchhuah Ropui (Great Entranceway) in Vangchhia village. It adds to India’s Northeast archaeological profile; strengthens cultural diplomacy with Myanmar border region.
About Lianpui Menhirs (Lungphun Ropui)
- Location: Lianpui village, ~54 km southeast of Champhai town, near the India–Myanmar border.
- Cultural Name: Locally called Lungphun Ropui.
- Historical Context: Village named after Lusei chief Lianpuia (18th century CE).
- Archaeological Features:
- 114 intricately carved menhirs (memorial stones).
- Carvings depict human figures, birds, animals, mithun heads, gongs, lizards, and other motifs reflecting pre-Christian Mizo cultural practices.
- The largest menhir: 1.87 m (height) × 1.37 m (width).
- Menhirs arranged in 8 alignments (4 north–south, 4 east–west).
- Other artefacts: anthropic holes, petroglyphs, Y-shaped wooden posts, ancient pathways.
Process of Declaration
- Feb 2021: Preliminary notification in Gazette of India.
- Process carried out under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
- With no objections received → Final notification issued → Site declared a protected monument.
Kawtchhuah Ropui Heritage Site (for context)
- First ASI-protected site in Mizoram (Champhai district).
- Meaning: “Great Entranceway”.
- Features:
- Over 170 engraved menhirs, pictographs on stone slabs, necropolis, and water pavilion with drilled holes for water storage.
- ~45 sq km site with terraces carved for settlement (15 excavated terraces).
- Menhirs rising up to 15 feet, depicting flora, fauna, and humans.
- Excavations suggest possible Neolithic origins, earlier than previously estimated (15th century CE).
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- Established: 1861 by Alexander Cunningham (first Director-General, often called the “Father of Indian Archaeology”).
- Current Function: Under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Mandate: Archaeological research, conservation, and protection of monuments, sites, and artefacts.
- Protected Sites: 3,691 monuments/sites across India (as of 2024).
- Legal Framework: Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.