According to a top Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official, an advisory body to UNESCO has recommended that "Moidams"—a mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam—be included in the World Heritage List.

The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), scheduled to be held in New Delhi from July 21 to July 31, will examine 27 nominations from across the world.

According to information from the culture ministry, these include 19 cultural sites, four natural sites, and two mixed sites.

India's nomination for the year 2023-24, "Moidams," will be examined under the category of cultural property.

Janhwij Sharma, Additional Director General of ASI, explained that a site must meet certain conditions to receive the UNESCO "world heritage" tag.

"The ICOMOS has recommended favourably for the inscription of Moidams, meaning it fulfils all those parameters," The Week reported, quoting Sharma.

ALSO READ | Existence Of World Heritage Sites' Glaciers Under Threat

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), based in Paris, is one of UNESCO's key advisory bodies, with experts visiting the nominated sites.

Vishal V. Sharma, chairperson of the WHC and ambassador and permanent representative of India to UNESCO, noted that if the nomination is accepted, it will be the first cultural property from the northeast to receive a UNESCO tag.

The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park are already recognized in the natural and mixed heritage categories, respectively.

The Centre informed Parliament in December last year that the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty has been submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2023-24.

These unique burial mounds, known as "moidams," were used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for around 600 years.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the then Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, G. Kishan Reddy, shared information about the nomination.

ALSO READ | Reasons Why You Should Visit Sivasagar At Least Once

"Selection of sites or properties for World Heritage nomination depends upon its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), authenticity, and integrity. These sites must fulfil one of the OUV criteria as mentioned in the UNESCO Operational Guidelines, 2023," he said.

"Moidams" are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double-storied, with an arched passage for entry.

Layers of bricks and earth are laid atop the hemispherical mud mounds. According to the UNESCO website, the base of the mound is reinforced by a polygonal toe wall and an arched gateway on the west.

"Eventually, the mound would be covered by a layer of vegetation, reminiscent of a group of hillocks, transforming the area into an undulating landscape," the description of "moidams" states.

Excavations show that each vaulted chamber had a centrally raised platform where the body was laid. According to the website, several objects used by the deceased during life, such as royal insignia, objects made of wood, ivory, or iron, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, clothes, and even human beings (only from the Luk-kha-khun clan), were buried with their king.

During a presentation, Sharma also mentioned that the WHC session could not take place in China in 2021 due to COVID-19 or in Russia in 2022.

He told reporters that over 2,000 international and national delegates from more than 150 countries are expected to participate in the event in Delhi.