Where archaeology, heritage and community come together

Meghalaya's first open-air museum, the Twahlongwar Open-Air Museum, is a heritage conservation project centered around an abandoned settlement located at Wahmawpat, Mawsynram. This project aims to document, conserve, and interpret the archaeological landscape while preserving its heritage features within their original natural and historical context. Consequently, the site has been developed based on the principle of minimal intervention. Archaeological investigations have revealed remnants of an old settlement, a former market area, burial sites, and megalithic monuments. Scientific testing of samples conducted at a laboratory in Florida, USA, confirmed that the settlement dates back to the mid-18th century. These findings shed light on the social, cultural, and economic life of the communities that once inhabited the area.