SONGBU

(Singngat - IN)
24.083300,93.666700
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 31/05/2016

An unspecified, south-facing »cave« or, perhaps, rock shelter of archaeological importance (SINGH, M J 1991: 127-128). ETYMOLOGY: »The cave is locally known as Songbu« (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 64) and has been referred to as Sangbu mastec.nic.in/manipeople.htm (accessed 2005.12.28) Songbu NAGARAJA RAO, M S (1985: 64) Songbu Cave SHARMA, A K (1996: 75); SINGH, M J 1991: 127-128). SITUATION: Unknown or, to be precise, »District Chandel … in the midst of forest hill-ranges near the Burma border« (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 64). »as [sic! at?] Sajik Tampak [note 1], Chandel district … [at] an elevation of 900 m« (SINGH, M J 1991: 127). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »The Songbu cave has an elevation of 900 m. The cave faces towards south« (SINGH, M J 1991: 127). CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: 1985 »A few artifacts consisting of scraper, borer-cum scraper, knife, flake-blades, flakes and cores were found inside and outside the cave« (NAGARAJA RAO, M S 1985 in: Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 64). 1991 »Recent exploration as [sic! at?] Sajik Tampak, Chandel district, by the State Archaeology Department, Government of Manipur, has brought to light palaeolithic culture and around the Songbu cave which has the elevation of 900 m. The cave faces towards the south. The exploration yielded scrapers, knife, flake blades and cores of sandstone and quartzitic sandstone (Singh, 1970)« (SINGH, M J 1991: 127-128). 1996 »The palaeolithic finds from Manipur by O.K. Singh [note 2] come from Songbu cave, district Chandel and open air sites … Tentatively the Palaeolithic culture in Manipur may be assigned to a time period during Late Pleistocene to Terminal Pleistocene« (SHARMA, A K 1996: 75).

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 31/05/2016

NOTE 1: »Sajik Tampak, Manipur 795102« (wikimapia.org/18772039/Sajik-Tampak accessed 2014.10.13). »Tucked in the border area of chandel district, Sajik Tampak is located about 17 kilometres south-east of Chakpikarong and is the domain of Kuki and Zou tribes« (e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=5..170906.sep06 accessed 2014.10.13). »Sajik tampak the Zomi inhabited vilage, is also known as Zogam by its native zomi's« (Michael Tungnung (guest), wikimapia.org/18772039/Sajik-Tampak accessed 2014.10.13). NOTE 2: »Singh, O.K., "On the discovery of Stone Age relics from Manipur," Jr. Assam Sc.Soc., XII, 1969, pp. 36-48« (SHARMA, A K 1996: 75 reference 7, 113 reference 7).

Documents

Bibliography 31/05/2016
  • Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985; Nagaraja Rao, M S 1985; Sharma, A K 1996; Singh, Jai Prakash & Sengupta, Gautam 1991; Singh, M Jitendra 1991; Singh, O K [Kumar]1969.

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1982-1983: »O.K. Singh and S.R. Singh of the State Aarchaeology Department, Manipur, and T.A. Singh, a reasearch student, carried out exploration and discovered a cave site, in the midst of forest hill-ranges near the Burma border. The cave is locally known as 'Songbu' A few artifacts consisting of scraper, borer-cum scraper, knife, flake-blades, flakes and cores were found inside and outside the cave« (NAGARAJA RAO, M S 1985 in: Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 64). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 31/05/2016

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
15.5HAOBICHING (Cave on the)
23.0TONGLON CAVE
42.6THANGJING HILL (Caves on)
47.1KANG MANG CHIN (Cave on)
62.0Mungsa (Hole at)
86.2NONGMAIJIN HILL (Cave on)
88.2NURSING DURWAZA (Hole at the)
91.1DIMAPUR (Cave at)
93.0Kounu Hill, Chirang (Cave on a)