Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty
Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty
Set in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the property contains the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. For 600 years, the Tai-Ahom created moidams (burial mounds) accentuating the natural topography of hills, forests and water, thus forming a sacred geography. Banyan trees and the trees used for coffins and bark manuscripts were planted and water bodies created. Ninety moidams – hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth – of different sizes are found within the site. They contain the remains of kings and other royals together with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants. The Tai-Ahom rituals of “Me-Dam-Me-Phi” and “Tarpan” are practiced at the Charaideo necropolis. While moidams are found in other areas within the Brahmaputra Valley, those found at the property are regarded as exceptional.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Moidams – système de tertres funéraires de la dynastie Ahom
Situé dans les contreforts de la chaîne des Patkai, dans l’est de l’Assam, le bien abrite la nécropole royale des Thaïs Ahom. Pendant 600 ans, les Thaïs Ahom ont aménagé des moidams (tertres funéraires), accentuant la topographie naturelle des collines, des forêts et des eaux, créant ainsi une géographie sacrée. Des banians et des arbres servant à la fabrication de cercueils ou de manuscrits sur écorce furent plantés et des plans d’eau aménagés. Quatre-vingt-dix moidams – caveaux construits en briques, en pierres ou en terre – de tailles différentes se trouvent à l’intérieur du site. Ils contiennent les restes des rois et d’autres membres de la famille royale, ainsi que des objets funéraires tels que de la nourriture, des chevaux et des éléphants, et parfois des reines et des serviteurs. Les rituels des Thaïs Ahom de « Me-Dam-Me-Phi » et de « Tarpan » sont pratiqués dans la nécropole de Charaideo. Bien que des moidams soient présents dans d’autres parties de la vallée du Brahmapoutre, ceux du bien sont considérés comme exceptionnels.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
نظام مدافن التلال العائد لسلالة آهوم (الهند)
يقع هذا الموقع على سفوح سلسلة جبال باتكاي في شرق آسام، ويضمُّ المقابر الملكية لشعب تاي-آهوم الذين شيَّدوا المويدام (مدافن التلال) طيلة 600 عام معززين التضاريس الطبيعية من تلال وغابات ومياه، مما شكَّل جغرافية مقدسة. وزُرعت أشجار بانيان والأشجار المستخدمة في صناعة التوابيت والمخطوطات على اللحاء وأُنشئت مسطحات مائية. وقد وُجد في الموقع تسعون مويدام وهي عبارة عن أقبية مجوفة مبنية من الطوب أو الأحجار أو الطين بأحجام مختلفة، وهي تتضمن رفات الملوك وغيرهم من أفراد العائلة المالكة إلى جانب مقتنيات جنائزية كالطعام والأحصنة والفيلة، وفي بعض الأحيان يوجد فيها رفات الملكات والخدم. وكان طقسا "مي-دام-مي-في" و"تاربان" لدي شعب التاي-آهوم يمارسان في مدافن شارايديو. وعلى الرغم من وجود المويدام في مناطق أخرى من وادي براهمابوترا، فإنَّ المويدام الموجودة في هذا الموقع تعتبر استثنائية.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
阿洪姆王朝的土丘墓葬系统（印度）
该遗产地是阿洪姆（Ahom）王朝的皇陵，位于阿萨姆邦东部的巴特开山麓。在600年时间里，阿洪姆人利用山丘、森林、水域等自然地形建造土丘墓穴“马伊达姆”（moidam），赋予该地神圣的色彩。这里种植着榕树以及用于制作棺木和树皮手稿的树木，并筑有蓄水设施。遗址内分布着90座大小不一的马伊达姆，它们由砖、石、土砌成拱顶，内部为空心结构。墓穴中存放着国王和其他王室成员的遗骸，以及食物、马匹、大象等随葬品，有些还包括王后和仆人的遗骸。阿洪姆人的梅达梅菲和塔尔潘仪式至今仍在查莱第奥区的墓地举行。尽管这一墓葬系统也见于贾木纳河谷的其他地区，但该遗产地尤为突出。
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Мойдамы — система курганов династии Ахом
В предгорьях хребта Паткай в восточной части штата Ассам находится королевский некрополь династии Ахом. В течение 600 лет для членов династии Ахом создавали мойдамы (курганы), подчеркивая природную топографию холмов, лесов и воды, формируя таким образом сакральную географию. Были посажены баньяновые деревья и деревья, используемые для изготовления гробов и берестяных рукописей, а также созданы водоемы. На территории комплекса находится девяносто мойдамов разных размеров. Это полые усыпальницы, построенные из кирпича, камня или земли. В них хранятся останки правителей и других членов правящей династии вместе с погребальным инвентарем, включавшим еду, лошадей и слонов, а иногда королев и слуг. В некрополе Чарейдео практикуются тай-ахомские ритуалы «Ме-Дам-Ме-Пхи» и «Тарпана». Хотя мойдамы встречаются и в других районах долины Брахмапутры, те, что найдены на территории этого объекта, считаются исключительными.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Moidams – sistema de túmulos funerarios de la dinastía Ahom
Este sitio, situado en las estribaciones de la cordillera de Patkai, al este de Assam, alberga la necrópolis real de los Tai-Ahom. Durante 600 años, los Tai-Ahom crearon moidams (túmulos funerarios) que realzaban la topografía natural compuesta de colinas, bosques y agua, originando así una geografía sagrada. Se plantaron banianos y otros árboles utilizados en la fabricación de ataúdes y manuscritos de corteza, y se crearon masas de agua artificiales. Dentro del sitio se encuentran noventa moidams –bóvedas huecas construidas de ladrillo, piedra o tierra– de distintos tamaños. Contienen los restos de reyes y otros miembros de la realeza, así como ajuares funerarios como comida, caballos y elefantes y, en algunos casos, reinas y sirvientes. En la necrópolis de Charaideo se practican los rituales Tai-Ahom de "Me-Dam-Me-Phi" y "Tarpan". Si bien existen moidams en otras zonas del Valle de Brahmaputra, se considera que los de este sitio son excepcionales.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty are a royal mound burial necropolis established by the Tai-Ahom in northeastern India. Set in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the property contains features sacred to the Tai-Ahom and demonstrates their funerary traditions. Led by Prince Siu-kha-pha, the Tai-Ahom migrated to present-day Assam in the 13th century and selected Charaideo as their first capital and location for the royal necropolis. For 600 years (from the 13th to the 19th centuries CE), the Tai-Ahom created moidams (“home-for-spirit”) that work with the natural features of hills, forests, and water, creating a sacred geography by accentuating the natural topography. Sacred trees were planted and water bodies were created.
Ninety moidams are found within the Charaideo necropolis, sited on elevated land. The moidams have been created by building an earth mound (Ga-Moidam) over a hollow vault constructed of brick, stone or earth (Tak), and topped by a shrine (Chou Cha Li) at the centre of an octagonal wall (Garh). This shape symbolises the Tai universe. The shrine at the top is the Mungklang, a middle space symbolised as a golden ladder establishing a heaven-earth continuum. The vaults contain the buried or cremated remains of kings and other royal individuals together with grave goods such as food, horses, and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants. The moidams within the property testify to the changes in materials and design of the burial mounds over time. This is a physical space where Tai-Ahom royals became gods, symbolising a heaven-earth continuum. The Tai-Ahom rituals of Me-Dam Me-Phi (ancestor worship) and Tarpan (libation) are practiced at the Charaideo necropolis.
Criterion (iii): Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty bear witness to 600 years of Tai-Ahom royal funerary architecture and customs and are a testimony to Tai-Ahom cultural traditions from the 13th to 19th centuries CE. The archaeological remains of the moidams are evidence of the architecture, layout, and manifestations of the Tai-Ahom beliefs and traditions. The continuing ritual practices of Tai-Ahom at the property are also significant in relation to this criterion.
Criterion (iv): Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty are an outstanding example of a Tai-Ahom necropolis that represents in a tangible way the Tai-Ahom funerary traditions and associated cosmologies. For around 600 years, the Tai-Ahom sculpted this landscape according to their cosmological beliefs. The undulating topography was accentuated by excavating ditches and marking the troughs with moidams. The natural vegetation was enhanced by planting sacred trees, and water bodies were added by channelising streams to fill them. Together these features symbolise the Tai universe, and a heaven-earth continuum.
Integrity
The property contains the most important and well-preserved Tai-Ahom royal mound burials (moidams). These are protected by national and state legal frameworks. The state of conservation is generally good, and the factors affecting the property are heavy rainfall, soil erosion and vegetation growth. The boundaries are appropriate, and the buffer zone protects the setting and other features associated with the Tai-Ahom.
Authenticity
The Charaideo necropolis is a sacred landscape with built royal burial mounds that reflect Tai-Ahom beliefs. The moidams are largely intact, as is the rural landscape setting. The Buranjis (royal chronicles) provide details of the Tai-Ahom world view and daily life, including the funerary rituals and spiritual associations, as well as details of the materials and labour required to construct the moidams.
Protection and management requirements
The property is protected by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act of 2010, the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, and the Assam Ancient Monuments and Records Act, 1959. The National Monument Authority and Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Assam regulate development in the buffer zone, and the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India approves application for archaeological excavation. No development is allowed within the property.
The property is jointly managed by the Assam Government’s Directorate of Archaeology (DOA) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Group of Four Maidams is an Ancient Monument of National Importance, and the remainder of the property is the Charaideo Archaeological Site, an Ancient Monument of State Importance. Three committees have been established to ensure coordination: the State-level Apex Committee, a Local Level Committee that oversees maintenance issues, and a Ministerial Committee for overseeing works and projects.
The management system is guided by the National Policy for Conservation of the Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains (2014). The Site Management Plan of Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (2023-2030) applies to the whole property. The Infrastructure/Protection, Preservation of Charaideo Moidams Archaeological Site five-year project focuses on improvements to visitor infrastructure. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act of 2010, establishes processes and requirements for Heritage Impact Assessments. Further development of the management system to include a sustainable tourism strategy and interpretation plan is needed; as well as further development of the research plan and implementation of a landscape approach to the management of the property.
Local communities regard the moidams as sacred burial sites and actively protect them. In recognition of the importance of the involvement of local communities, additional strategies for community engagement have been outlined.
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