Shillong, March 27: Neolithic artefacts used by Khasis will add another feather to the cap of this year's Monolith Festival, the biggest festival showcasing cultural traditions of the community.

The second edition of the festival, organised by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, will begin on Thursday at the Khasi heritage village in Mawphlang, about 25km from here.

Speaking to reporters at the heritage village, Italian archaeologist Marco Mitri revealed the discovery of rare tools believed to have been used by Khasi people during the ancient period and said they would be one of the important highlights of the three-day festival.

He said the tools were recovered following a preliminary excavation of a Neolithic site at U Lum Sohpet Bneng (Sohpet Bneng peak), a place where an annual ritual is performed by Khasis.

U Lum Sohpet Bneng is located near Umiam on National Highway 40 (Guwahati-Shillong Road). For many centuries, folk stories have been told about the descendants of the Khasi community and their first settlement on earth.

The excavation of the Neolithic site was carried out by Mitri and a team of academicians from North Eastern Hill University comprising pro-vice chancellor Prof. B. Myrboh, Desmond Kharmawphlang and Hiambok Syiemlieh.

"This is the first-ever excavation of a Neolithic site in Meghalaya. During the excavation, some tools recovered from the site like stone materials, iron implements and grain date to the ancient pre-historical period," Mitri said.

The samples of the recovered tools were sent to a renowned laboratory at Miami, US - Beta Analytic - for radiocarbon dating to confirm their age.

"Over 20 stone tools, including grain, were recovered from the site and sent to Beta Analytic in 2014 for testing," he said.

Quoting the confirmation received from Beta Analytic, Mitri said these tools were used from the 12th century.

"We will display the replica of these tools during the festival," Mitri said, adding that the Neolithic site indicated the settling down of Khasi people on earth.

Mitri said the site at Sohpet Bneng was explored 13 years ago but it was not revealed to the public.

Mitri's work, Outline of Neolithic Culture of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, was published in the British Archaeological Reports, 2009.