When you picture the Sundarbans, what comes to mind? A dense green mangrove forest, a mysterious world of breathing roots, a labyrinth of rivers and creeks, and of course, the silent, majestic gait of the Royal Bengal Tiger. This is the Sundarbans we know. But what if I told you that beneath this tangled wilderness, buried under layers of river silt, lies the history of a sophisticated, thousand-year-old civilization? What if this famous forest was once a bustling hub of global commerce?

Though it sounds incredible, it’s true. The history of this region wasn’t just shaped by modern man. Its story was written thousands of years ago, stretching back to prehistoric times. Let us dive into this forgotten chapter of the Sundarbans, guided by the hand of archaeology.

Prehistoric Roots: The Head-Worshippers of the Forest

Our story begins around sixty thousand years ago when streams of humanity migrated from Africa to populate the world. One branch of these early humans arrived at the Chhota Nagpur Plateau and eventually settled in the region we now call the Sundarbans. Their culture, uniquely adapted to the forest and water, was based on hunting and gathering. However, their most distinct identity was that of the ‘Mundapujak’—the head-worshippers.

But this was not a violent practice. To these people, the munda (head or skull) was a symbol of reverence, a vessel for the memory of their ancestors. In the prehistoric era, they worshipped the skulls of their deceased parents or respected elders. Over time, this practice evolved. In the Chalcolithic era (the Copper-Stone Age), they began creating symbolic heads from clay for their rituals. This tradition merged with nature worship, fertility rites, and various beliefs tied to agriculture.

The idols unearthed from this period are astonishing. Gazing at these distinctive, stylized figurines feels like watching thousands of years of history come alive. With their unique eyes, thick lips, broad noses, and vibrant headdresses, each statue tells its own story. Some feature a protruding tongue, possibly symbolizing a special belief or a form of divine energy.

Perhaps the most surprising discovery is that, in the beginning, the worship centered exclusively on female heads, a practice known as ‘Burima Puja’ (Elder Mother Worship). Does this point to a matriarchal society? It remains a fascinating subject of research. Later, male heads were incorporated, and the ritual became known as ‘Burburi Puja’. Imagine, the echoes of this prehistoric tradition still survive in the folk religions of West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, in rituals like ‘Bara Puja’, ‘Dakshin-Narayani Puja’, or ‘Jatal Puja’. This is how history flows silently through the ages.

The Lost Port of Gangaridai: When the Sundarbans was a Global Trade Center

In the annals of history, Greek accounts from the time of Alexander the Great mention a powerful kingdom in Bengal known as ‘Gangaridai’. The ancient geographer Ptolemy mentioned its capital, ‘Gange’, and another important port city called ‘Tilogramum’. Many researchers now believe that the modern-day village of Tilpi, located on the banks of the Piyali river near Jayanagar in South 24 Parganas, is the legendary Tilogramum.

Close your eyes and imagine stepping back two thousand years. On the banks of the Piyali river stands a bustling port city. Ships from distant lands crowd the docks. Roman merchants arrive with their amphorae (special clay jars) filled with wine and oil, trading them for this region’s famed muslin, exotic spices, and intricate beaded jewelry.

This is not fantasy. Excavations at Tilpi have unearthed concrete evidence of this thriving civilization:

• Seals inscribed with Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts.
• Molds and a workshop for creating cast coins.
• Remains of a furnace for melting metal, indicating an advanced metallurgical industry.
• Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), the most prized and luxurious pottery of its time.
• And most importantly, fragments of Roman Amphorae, irrefutable proof of direct commercial links with the far-flung Roman Empire.

These discoveries challenge our conventional understanding of history. They prove that ancient India’s urban and commercial prowess was not confined to the Indus Valley in the northwest. Here, in the eastern delta of Bengal, a rich, trade-oriented civilization flourished, connected to the wider world.

History Speaks: A Name Etched in Terracotta

The soil of the Sundarbans holds more than just prehistoric relics and ancient ports; it also preserves tales from the medieval period. At a ruined Shiva temple in Khord village near Muragachha, archaeologists found a terracotta plaque that had miraculously survived centuries of storms and floods.

The plaque, inscribed in an early form of the Bengali script, reveals a precise date and a name. It has been dated to 1157 Shakabda or 1235 AD. The inscription tells us that on a Sunday, an artist or architect named Gurdas built this temple. A single, small plaque carries such incredible information. It not only dates the temple but also introduces us to an ordinary artist from nearly eight hundred years ago, immortalized by his own creation.

Not the Final Word, But a New Beginning

The archaeological discoveries in the Sundarbans are not just about finding old objects. They are the documents of a lost civilization. They teach us that history is not confined to one region or narrative. The story of the Gangaridai is as vital and glorious as that of Harappa.

For a long time, scholars believed the Sundarbans to be a land without antiquity. These findings have shattered that notion. It is almost certain that many more secrets and stories lie dormant beneath the mud. Perhaps, with the combined efforts of archaeology, folklore studies, and modern science, the curtain will be lifted further.

And on that day, we will recognize our roots even more deeply. Every new discovery is not an endpoint, but the beginning of a new chapter, promising to fascinate, surprise, and fill us with pride for our deep-rooted heritage.