The Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University is one of the oldest Department in Nagaland University founded in October 1988 at its NEHU Campus in Kohima, Nagaland. This landmark initiative was formally inaugurated by Kiremwati, Pro-Vice Chancellor, NEHU, Kohima Campus. Academic programs were launched with the first batch of students enrolled fromJune 5, 1989. The Department in the past had eminent historian and archaeologist from the Northeast region as Visiting Professors amongst whom were Prof. J.N. Phukan(Padma Shri) and Late Prof. T.C.Sharma. The Department actively engage in archaeological and historical research of ethnic communities of Northeast India spanning the precolonial to contemporary times, prehistoric archaeology, and lay emphasis on the importance of theory and analytical concepts in reconstructing the region’s past. We aim to disseminate the knowledge of humanity’s historical past to the society in the ways that will change ideas which will further inculcate new thinking for a more sustainable future within a rapidly changing society.

Research Overview:

1. We engage in stimulating and productive research collaborations with both Indian and foreign institutions covering various dimensions of the region’s prehistorical and historical past.
2. Our primary thrust areas include – Contemporary Naga social, economic, and political history, environmental history; culinary history; ethnohistory and archaeology of Naga ancestral sites; caves and hunter-gatherer archaeology; multidisciplinary research through institutional collaborations; ceramic ethnoarchaeology, monumentality and feasting; community archaeology and heritage management in Northeast India.
3. We are actively engaged in the documentation of Naga pottery manufacture for the last two decades and possess an excellent inventory of Naga traditional pottery from various Naga communities across Nagaland. Documentation of other forms of traditional knowledge such as traditional agricultural practices, hunting techniques, basketry, domestic architecture, salt-making, and iron smithy is also one of the key concerns of the Department.
4. Inter-disciplinary researches involving other field of sciences in the study of early Naga ancestral sites.
5. Our current research effortsproduced direct archaeological evidence on early subsistence strategies of the Nagas and other prehistoric population of the region.
6. Our inter-disciplinary research is gradually unravelling the archaeological past of the Mid-Holocene and Late Holocene period of the Naga Hills and Northeast India. We hope that our on-goingexploration/excavationin the Mimi cave/rockshetler sites and the surrounding Ophiolite region will aid in the discovery of additionalsites of greater antiquity to further in the global discussion of modern human migrations through the corridor of Northeast India.
7. The Department also undertakes Community Archaeology program with Naga local communities in identifying, interpreting and managing ancestral sites. We also undertake other extension/outreach with State Government Departments such as the Department of Art & Culture, and the Department of Tourism for joint collaborative initiatives on the preservation and promotion of heritage sites in Nagaland.
8. Our research enabled us to establish mutual collaborations with the following institutions:
1. Department of Archaeology, Deccan College (Post-Graduate & Research Instt.), Pune.
2. Department of History & Archaeology, NEHU, Tura Campus, Meghalaya.
3. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow & Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, USA.
4. Institute of Prehistoric & Protohistoric Archaeology, Kiel University, Germany.
5. Kobe Yamate University, Kobe, Japan.
6. Charles McBurney Laboratory of Geoarchaeology, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, UK.
7. University of Melbourne, Australia.
8. University of Sydney& La Trobe University, Australia.

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