In the absence of written documents, and because the Zo had limited contact with neighbouring peoples, it is extremely difficult to trace Zo history. However, through historical linguistics, archeological findings, and ethnic relationships, it is now accepted that Zo belong to the group of people identified as Tibeto-Burmans.
The oral genealogy of Zo claims that a man named Zo was the originator of all Zo people. The genealogy however does not record time or locations, and may names must have been forgotten. The genealogy may also contain only information about those who were powerful, with those less successful being omitted. Estimates based on oral history account for approximately twenty seven generations of Zo people. Assuming a generation to last twenty-five years. Zo people have been in existence for only about seven hundred years. Therefore genealogy as the Zo recall it cannot be wholly depended upon as a source of information. A written genealogy, the “Genealogy of the Zo Race,” was compiled by Khupzathang of Buanman. in 1974. The written versionhowever was based on information from only parts of Zoram, and thus neither the written genealogy nor legned reveal the true origins of the Zo people. (See Table 1)
Source : Zo History (Page 35/359)
