The geo-archaeological evidence for the reconstruction of past – exploration from the Sagore island, West Bengal, India

Stratified archaeological evidences from the Neolithic age to Pal-Sena period in the Sagore island of Sundarban provide the evidence for evolution of geographical environment. We can make relationship between the history of local topography and distribution of ancient settlement on the basis of different archaeological evidence, viz- ancient name of many geographical features and land, old terms of ethnic groups mention in early literature, description of pilgrimage route etc. Sapkhali and Mandirtala of SagoreIsland have significant antiquity because of existence of proto-historic sculpture and Neolithic stone. To the extreme of the north-western part along the bank of present day Hooghly river (Mandirtala, Sapkhali) is the exposer of Neolithic civilization, again at the south-western site there is an excavation site of historical remains of relatively younger age(320AD – 750AD) and most of the eastern part of island is most younger in age (750 AD – 1250AD). The NW side belong to the period of 4000 YBP, SW part belong to the period of 2300 YBP and most of the eastern side of island belong to the period of 1300 YBP-800YBP as dated by different researcher and govt. organization in the past. Thus a continues settlement process found from Neolithic to pal-sena period but this is interesting that no evidence were found to support for settlement existence in between 1230AD to 1400AD.

The importance of such studies has to be stressed because only by dwelling on this themes that the ancient “Sagoredwip” own perception of there can be reconstructed and filled up with the rivers, forest, political unit, people gathering and other geographical features that we see today.