Old Settlements at Dungtlang

The Old Settlement at Dungtlang, situated in Champhai District, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Mizoram. It is closely associated with the westward migration of the ancestors of the Mizo people from present-day Myanmar across the Tiau River.

According to Mizo oral traditions and historical accounts, Dungtlang served as one of the earliest and largest settlements established during this migration. Local legend recounts that the settlement comprised as many as 7,000 households governed by seven chiefs, chosen as a strategic defensive centre capable of protecting its inhabitants from hostile groups on the opposite side of the Tiau River.

The Archaeological Wing of the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Mizoram, in collaboration with the Higher and Technical Institute of Mizoram, Lunglei, recently undertook systematic archaeological exploration and excavation at Dungtlang. The excavation revealed evidence of both ancient habitation areas and burial sites. Preliminary findings indicate that the site experienced multiple phases of habitation beginning around 400 CE, making it one of the earliest known archaeological settlements in Mizoram.

A variety of archaeological materials, including human skeletal remains, pottery fragments (potsherds), and soil samples, were recovered and submitted to specialised laboratories for scientific analysis.