SUNDARBAN : THE ANCIENT HUMAN SETTLEMENT

The Sunderban region was once, even in near past, thought to be of lesser Importance in archaeological viewpoint. James Ferguson, the eminent geologist in British India was of opinion that any “swathe of land in between The Ganges, The Bhagirathi and The Padma was nonexistent in about 5000 years ago.” Kanongopal Bagchi in pre independence era and Edwin. H. Pascoe in sixties of the last century also suggested that the lower Gangetic alluvial plain was not at all inhabitable land back in 3000 years. But the fact is that numerous  ancient archaeological remains and artefacts were unearthed from different parts of the Sunderban area during the last century. All these perchance discoveries have proved that the Archieaological conjecture about this delta region are mostly misplaced.

(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)

The early opinions was challenged for the first time when historian Kalidas Dutta first established the antiquity of the Sunderban region. His contemporary historian Satish Chandra Mitra coeval with Dutta, also did research- work on the area albeit mainly of Eastern Bengal. In later years, Paresh chandra Dasgupta, H. D. Sankalia viz. were still reluctant to acknowledge that antiquity. But, with the passage of time, they were rather bound to refresh their earlier views and admitted the existence of developed urban  infrastruicture in the past much remote than the era as suggested by the prevailing notion.

(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)

Of course, William Willcock admitted that, once upon a time, planned dwelling places were in existence in south 24 Parganas ( Ancient system of irrigation in Bengal ). R. G. Oldham in his “Treaties of Geology of India  :  Stratigraphical and structural geology “ stated that in his geological survey in this region,  he found thick  stratum of pebbles and conglomerated sand. These findings, he indicated, proved  that  this land was scarred with small stone hills in the ancient past which disappeared  later due to land subsidence.

(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)

The Sunderban witnessed so many evolutionary ups and downs owing to  natural causes like receding sea water level, changes of courses of the rivers and huge amount of alluvial deposition during the past 4000 years.. As a matter of fact, the southern Bengal including the Sunderban had been affected with so many serious earthquakes of different scale, land subsidence, tsunamis, furious cyclones and deadly floods from circa 2000 years or more to last 500 years. One may even keep aside ancient past and wonder at the documentary evidence which shows that the landforms and environment of the region had undergone see changes in last 500 years :. More than  65  huge cyclones, 5 very deadly earthquakes and at least 12  heavy floods were recorded in documents( from 1852 AD). Notably, in recent past a furious cyclone reminiscent  of a deadly tsunami which swept over this area way back in 1737 AD had brought disastrous changes in geographical map of Southern bengal including Kolkata. These types of natural disasters sank the relics of earlier civilisations more than once under soil. This is the cause for which we find various ruined ancient structures and relics of pre Mauriyan, Mauriyan, Shunga, Kushan, Gupta or,Pala-Sena ages in Sunderbans of both the parts of the divided bengal.

Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur

Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur and its surroundings of Pathar pratima Island house archaeological treasure trove on its shores. Commonfolks of these areas are dependent mainly on fishing. Two fishermen, the Sahu brothers ( Bishwajit Sahu and Bimal Sahu ) came across huge artefacts while engaged in their profession. They were not at all concerned early with archaeological characteristics of the materials. Yet they somehow at least managed to percept that, the materials they collected might be very old age and had historical importance. They collected over 15000 artefacts dated from 3 BC. to 3 AD in their  forty years long effort. Their collection includes large number of animal figures like ram, bull, buffalo, deer, bird, fossilised bones,  stone beads, huge terracotta pot shards and  terracotta figurine, believed to be that of Mother Goddess.

Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur

A terracotta seal, inscribed with Brahmi scripts of fourth century AD. has been found from this region. The seal has the word ' Saketnagar ' inscribed on it and it may be the ancient name of present Dhanchi .  According to the eminent epigraphist and ancient numismatist Suresh chandra Bhattacharya, Saket was a man of moneyed class or might be a reputed merchant. The seal, it has been inferred, was made in between third century CE to early fourth century CE.

Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur

This area of South twenty four parganas with close proximity of the Bay of Bengal, had once been a rich habitat from third century BC. Recent archaeological findings from the area indicate that, there existed regular civilised society even a thousand years ago. Amal Ray Pradhan, the Joint Director of the State Archeology Department stated that the relics of continuous occupational habitats from third century BC. to the Pala age are found in that area. Ancient trade emporium might possibly be situated here. Archaeologists are of the openion that this habitat had overseas commercial connection with the trade centres of Arakan , South East Asia and Eastern Indian coast. North - Central Indian towns were its hinterlands through river navigation.

Rupendra Kumar Chattapadhayay , the professor of Archaeology of the Kolkata University surveyed earlier in this area. He stated, this area, beyond question, was very rich habitat in early and medieval age. There might be a port town also. There is hardly any doubt of prevailing prolonged direct connection  among this area, the outer world and inland trade  system from circa third century BC. to tenth century AD. The port Tamralipta was also linked certainly to this coastal trade centre.

Archaeologists hypothises on the historical link for some coins found from this area.  A coin having inscription of a standing king, bow and arrow in hand, has been found with the letter “S”  ( ' স ') is inscribed  beside and one female deity is on the reverse side. Susmita Basu Mazumder, the professor of the department of Ancient India History and Culture of the Kolkata University  thinks, that the coin belonged to Samatata. One side of the coin is adhering to the  Gupta tradition and other is in conformity with the Kushan tradition. The coin proves direct linkage between present South East Bangladesh and this area of the Sunderban. She informs that, the ox mounted ( Vrishavahana ) on coin is contemporary to Sasanka.The  basalt stone used to make (Now broken) image of Vishnu, once found from here was believed to be brought from Rajmahal via river route. Domestic utensils were also unearthed from here.

Ancient ruins of religious shrines at Mandirtala, extinct shrines at Banashysmmnagar,ruins of twin shrines at Deulbari in Kulti, extinct Buddhist vihars of Haroa, Harinarayanpur, Nalgora, Kankanadighi, Jain traditional relics etc, are indications of rich trade and traders community and there rich composite religious cultures in this region. Various remnants of religious sites still to be noticed here bear testimony of the impetus offered through financial enterprises and other endeavors of the merchant communities. So many relics, images, coins, architectural remains found near Jater Deul and its vicinity corroborates the fact. Tamralipta and Chandraketugarh as chief commercial nerve centers and ports might be then considered the steering forces of economy of Bengal.

    Research: Santanu Roy and  Mr.Kalyan Chakraborty.

    Photography: Santanu Roy. 

   Sources :

     1. "Ancient system of irrigation in Bengal"- William Wilcock.

     2. "Geology of  India: Stratigraphical and structural geology" -R.G.Oldham.

   3.https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/settlement-of- history/article5486821.ece

4.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/civilisation-in-sunderbans-traced-to-mauryan-era/articleshow/53483794.cms

 5. https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/meet-biswajit-sahu-a-fisherman-at-day-and-an-archaeologist-by-night-118120701156_1.ht

6.https://eisamay.com/west-bengal-news/civilisation-in-sunderbans-traced-to-mauryan-era/articleshow/53486187.cms

    7. “Archaeology of South Twenty Four Parganas” : -Kallol Das Gupta.

    8.  “Archaeological Discovery in Bengal”- Paresh Chandra Dasgupta.

    9. “West Bengal District Gazetters 24 Parganas.” - Barun De.

 10. “Varendra Research Society’s Monographs (No.4 & 5)"–Kalidas Dutta.Varendra Research   Society (Rajsahi-1930)

  11. “ The Ganges Delta” – KanangopalBagchi.

 12. lastly, we are very much grateful to Mr. Amitava Gupta, Mr. Debi Sankar Mirdha, and Mr. Suvendu Bhattacharjee, without their cordial help and co-operation we could not proceed to develop this article.