Lumami: In a landmark initiative blending Indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge science, Nagaland archaeologists will seek to unearth ancient climate adaptation techniques to help address modern food security challenges.
Funded by the Australian Research Council, the four-year collaborative project is being carried out by a consortium of international and Indian institutions, including the University of Sydney, La Trobe University, University of York, and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. The effort is being spearheaded by Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir from the Department of History and Archaeology, Nagaland University.
At the heart of this ambitious research is a quest to better understand how prehistoric and early agrarian Naga communities adapted to climate fluctuations — knowledge that may prove vital for sustainability and food resilience today.
Digging Through Time
The Nagaland archaeology team is focusing on two broad categories of sites: prehistoric zones, believed to predate settled agriculture, and ancestral Naga village sites—many of which lie beneath modern settlements. These locations serve not only as physical markers of the past but also as collective memory-keepers for Indigenous communities, preserving oral histories of migration, settlement, and survival.
One such study under archaeologists is already underway in Langa village (Shamator District) in Nagaland, an ancestral site that had been abandoned for generations before being reoccupied recently. Excavations there have uncovered remnants of an earlier settlement, while local elders have offered oral narratives explaining the reasons behind the village’s earlier abandonment. A short community archaeology film has been produced documenting these findings and traditional stories, in collaboration with villagers from Langa, Kuthur, and the Yimkhiung Tribal Council.
Similar efforts are progressing at New Phor (Burakha) in Meluri District, supported by the Pochury Hoho and local residents. These excavations seek to reconstruct past ways of life and environmental adaptations.
“This is the first time we’re creating a robust, dated chronology of Naga prehistory. We’re looking at both the tangible artefacts and the intangible oral histories that connect communities to their land,” said Prof. Jamir.
Science Meets Tradition
The Nagaland archaeologists’ research spans the Holocene and Anthropocene epochs, integrating archaeological methods with palaeoclimate studies to track long-term environmental change. Central to the investigation is the study of ancient food systems — how they functioned, evolved, and supported entire communities through uncertain weather cycles.
“We work with communities to uncover the deep history of their villages, to see how food systems have changed through time, and to identify past adaptations to altered climatic conditions,” said Prof. Alison Betts of the University of Sydney. “The aim is to use these insights to guide Indigenous communities toward greater climate resilience.”
Scientific techniques include the analysis of charred plant remains for radiocarbon dating, phytolith studies to identify ancient plant species, and chemical residue analysis from pottery shards to reconstruct diets. The nutritional value of traditional preserved foods will also be assessed.
A Model for the Future
This pioneering initiative comes at a critical time for Nagaland, where traditional agricultural systems like jhum (slash-and-burn cultivation) are under strain from modern pressures and climate unpredictability. While jhum has often been dismissed as ecologically harmful, recent studies—including this one—are re-evaluating it as a complex, cyclical system that sustains biodiversity and social cohesion.
By tracing ancient patterns of cultivation and adaptation, the project hopes to offer valuable strategies for food security, biodiversity preservation, and climate mitigation — all grounded in Indigenous practices.
The team’s findings will be widely shared through scientific publications and community outreach. Local communities involved in the research will receive targeted information to support sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Funded through 2028, the project has the backing of the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland, and is already being viewed as a model for similar archaeological-climate studies elsewhere.
As Prof. Jamir noted, “The past offers us a blueprint. If we listen to the land and to our elders, we may find answers we didn’t know we were looking for.”
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