Modern humans evolved in East Africa and gradually migrated to different parts of the world. The “Out of Africa” theory, widely supported by genetics, archaeology, paleoanthropology, and linguistics, explains how early humans spread across continents. East Asians primarily descend from early human populations that migrated from Africa through South Asia, moving northward into East Asia around 40,000–50,000 years ago.
Interestingly, when Homo sapiens migrated, they were not alone. Other hominins, such as Neanderthals in Europe and Denisovans in Asia, already inhabited different regions. Genetic studies confirm that early modern humans interbred with these extinct human relatives, as seen in the presence of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in modern human populations. Furthermore, all modern males can trace their ancestry to a common African origin, based on Y-chromosome studies.
This leads us to an important question: Where did the Nagas come from? Specifically, where did the Ao Nagas originate? While there is no universally accepted scientific conclusion, it is crucial to explore both traditional narratives and archaeological evidence. Chungliyimti, a historically significant site, provides an important cultural perspective. On March 13, the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) organized an Arju Camp to Chungliyimti Village as part of a three-day camp, acknowledging the importance of preserving and understanding ancestral heritage.
According to Chungliyimti villagers, as learned during the camp, the ‘Longterok’ (Six Stones) is symbolic of six languages, representing the Sangtam, Konyak, Phom, Chang, Yimkhiung, and Ao tribes. Oral traditions suggest that before dispersing to different regions, these Naga groups set the ‘Longterok’ in place, marking their shared origin.
While all humans share a common African ancestor, there is an opportunity to further explore and validate the deep-rooted historical and cultural connections among these six Naga communities. Strengthening this homogeneity can reinforce Naga identity and unity. Now, that would be a worthwhile endeavor to pursue even as we wait for the scientific explanation of where the Nagas originated and migrated from.