Watch: Ahom Dynasty’s Mound-Burial System Now In UNESCO World Heritage List

The mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam — ‘Moidams’ — was on Friday included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the first cultural property from the Northeast to get the coveted tag.

The decision was taken during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in India.

‘Moidams’ was submitted as India’s nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a matter of “immense joy and pride” for India that ‘Moidams’ had made it to the WHC list “The Moidams at Charaideo showcase the glorious Ahom culture, which places utmost reverence to ancestors. I hope more people learn about the great Ahom rule and culture. Glad that the Moidams join the #WorldHeritage List,” he said.

The unique burial mounds, represented by pyramid-like structures known as ‘Moidams’, were used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty that ruled Assam for around 600 years.

Proud moment for ??! Assam’s Moidams, known as the ‘Pyramids of India,’ have been inscribed as the 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site. (1/2)#MoidamsInUNESCO #AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/Fya9xnnsU5

— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) July 26, 2024

‘Moidams’ are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double-storied, that has an arched passage for entry. Atop the hemispherical mud mounds, layers of bricks and earth are laid. The base of the mound is reinforced by a polygonal toe-wall and an arched gateway on the west, according to the UNESCO website.

“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’ said.

Excavation shows each vaulted chamber has a centrally-raised platform where the body was laid. Several objects used by the deceased during his life, like royal insignia, objects made of wood, ivory or iron, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, clothes to the extent of human beings (only from the Luk-kha-khun clan) were buried with their king, according to the website.

Reacting to ‘Moidams’ receiving the UNESCO tag, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said it is a day “etched in golden letters” and thanked UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee for understanding the outstanding universal value of ‘Moidams’.

The session of the WHC being held at the Bharat Mandapam here from July 21 to July 31, will examine 27 nominations from across the world, including 19 cultural sites, four natural sites and two mixed sites.

India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time.

Ahead of the start of the session, Janhwij Sharma, additional director general of the Archaeological Survey of India, told reporters that ICOMOS, an advisory body to UNESCO, had recommended favourably for the inscription of the ‘Moidams’ which meant that it “fulfils all those parameters”.

The Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is one of the key advisory bodies to UNESCO and its experts visit the nominated sites.

Vishal V Sharma, chairperson of the WHC and ambassador and permanent representative of India to UNESCO, had said in a press conference that if the nomination gets accepted, it would be the first cultural property from the Northeast to get a UNESCO tag.

The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park fall in the natural and mixed heritage categories respectively, he added.

In an interview with news agency PTI on Monday, Sharma said he was hopeful that ‘Moidams’ would make it to the list.