Aizawl, May 5 (PTI) Mizoram’s Rajya Sabha member K Vanlalvena visited Lungphun Ropui, a historical site of carved memorial stones or menhirs, located in Lianpui village in Champhai district, officials said on Tuesday.
During the visit on Monday, the MP interacted with local leaders and representatives of civil society organisations, where he stressed the importance of preserving ancient sites.
Vanlalvena said that all civilised societies place high value on preserving the remains and legacies of their forefathers.
He also lauded Lianpui villagers for their continued efforts in safeguarding and preserving their ancestral heritage.
Lungphun Ropui was officially declared as a “monument of national importance” by the Archaeological Survey of India on July 14 last year.
The recognition followed sustained efforts, including initiatives taken by Vanlalvena himself, who had earlier raised the matter in Parliament to secure the status.
Lungphun Ropui is located in Lianpui, which is a small village located 54 km southeast of Champhai town near the India-Myanmar border and famous for its rich repository of ancient artefacts.
These antiquarian artefacts include 114 intricately carved memorial stones or menhirs locally known as Lungphun Ropui, anthropic holes, petroglyphs, Y-shaped wooden posts and ancient pathways.
The upright memorial stones bear detailed carvings of human figures, birds, animals, mithun heads, gongs, lizards, and other cultural motifs reflecting the cultural practices of the Mizos before the advent of Christianity, according to officials.
The largest of such memorial stones measures 1.87 metre in height and 1.37 metre in width, they said.
These menhirs are arranged into eight alignments with four oriented north-south and the other four east-west, they said.
Lianpui village was named after Lusei chief Lianpuia, who reportedly established the village in the 18th century CE.
Regarded as one of the oldest villages in Mizoram, the area is home to numerous ancestral relics.
It also features Zopuitlang, one of the notable mountain ranges in the state. PTI CORR RG
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.