ASAKGRE SONGACHAM SHELTER

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A shallow rock shelter (up to about 5 m wide and 2 m high) under a protruding rock shelf, almost filled with sediment, and apparently of archaeological interest, is situated a few metres above the left (eastern) side of the Khimrang stream (note 1) at Asakgre Songacham (Songitcham) in the Matcha Timrang area, and on the right-hand side of the footpath connecting Asakgre Imandura (note 2) via a cattle farm (note 3) with the –>Chibanda area. ETYMOLOGY: The Garo -songacham- are abandoned jhum plots (note 4) but Erok Sangma, Asakgre (2002.02.14, personal communication), explained the apparently identical -songitcham” as meaning the old / former [place of the] village and -matcha” is a kind of a tiger (or civet?), and -timrang” means abode. The overgrown site (WGS84 N25°20'50-: E090°31'15- H.D. Gebauer 2002.02.14, Garmin 12), which showed in February 2002 no plainly visible traces of human occupation, was said to have been inhabitated till the early 20th century but was abandoned due t disease and tigers. CULTURAL HISTORY - Archaeology: In February 2002, buried and disintegrating shards of pottery were seen exposed in the weathered face of the shelters infilling.A shallow rock shelter (up to about 5 m wide and 2 m high) under a protruding rock shelf, almost filled with sediment, and apparently of archaeological interest, is situated a few metres above the left (eastern) side of the Khimrang stream (note 1) at Asakgre Songacham (Songitcham) in the Matcha Timrang area, and on the right-hand side of the footpath connecting Asakgre Imandura (note 2) via a cattle farm (note 3) with the –>Chibanda area. ETYMOLOGY: The Garo -songacham- are abandoned jhum plots (note 4) but Erok Sangma, Asakgre (2002.02.14, personal communication), explained the apparently identical -songitcham” as meaning the old / former [place of the] village and -matcha” is a kind of a tiger (or civet?), and -timrang” means abode. The overgrown site (WGS84 N25°20'50-: E090°31'15- H.D. Gebauer 2002.02.14, Garmin 12), which showed in February 2002 no plainly visible traces of human occupation, was said to have been inhabitated till the early 20th century but was abandoned due t disease and tigers. CULTURAL HISTORY - Archaeology: In February 2002, buried and disintegrating shards of pottery were seen exposed in the weathered face of the shelters infilling.