Glimpse of Archaeological & Heritage Gallery at the State Museum, Directorate of Art & Culture, Kohima, inaugurated on May 10. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 10
In a major development for archaeology of Nagaland, Nagaland Art & Culture and Treasuries & Accounts Advisor, K Konngam Konyak inaugurated Archaeological & Heritage Gallery at the State Museum, Directorate of Art & Culture, Kohima on May 10.
Speaking on the occasion, Konngam maintained that museum act as an important source of education as it highlight artefacts and the historical values. In this, he stressed on the need to strengthen and give importance to museum to preserve and promote the cultural heritage. Further, he also called for discovering more objects of archaeological interest to preserve the rich culture and tradition of the Nagas.
Also speaking at the programme, Athel O Lotha, Commissioner & Secretary For Art & Culture, Nagaland, said that the state museum under the under the Department of Art & Culture, is an institution where traditional culture, lifestyle and beliefs of the Nagas are projected in its true form. “Museums are also an integral institution for the preservation of archaeological remains and relics,” she said.
We all know that archaeology is concerned with the recovery and interpretation of artefacts from the past. Through the careful study of these material remains, we are able to learn a great deal about the peoples and cultures of ancient times, she said adding that Archaeological and Heritage Gallery displays an array of antiquities, concerned mainly with historical evidence recovered from the ground and in many cases provides information on a period for which there is no written record.
“The objects conserved in the Archaeological and Heritage gallery constitute exceptional repository of ancient history through material remains. The collection of ancient artefacts and heritage products are an invaluable source of providing information to interested public, researchers and educational institutions,” she said and hoped that this Archaeological and Heritage gallery will be greatly helpful in preserving the cultural history of the Nagas.
Overview of archaeological gallery
Highlighting the overview of archaeological gallery, Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir, Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University Kohima Campus, said that having a separate gallery of archeology is very important.
People without its history and origin is like a tree without its roots, he said.
Jamir and others from Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University has been associating with the department of art & culture for more than a decade relating to archaeological matters.
Jamir expressed happiness to the department of art & culture for according their consent to a have very specific and exclusive gallery for the archaeology of Nagaland.
“This gallery is a very special one, because it highlights the precolonial history and the pre history of Nagaland,” he said.
He maintained that the archeological gallery is not only about displaying the objects but it is also about trying to bring about an interactive process “where each one of us to look at the objects and perceive the past in the various ways.”
Earlier, the programme was chaired by art & culture joint director Merensola Longkumer while vote of thanks was proposed by Adela Moa, Director, Art & Culture, Nagaland.
