**Executive Summary**
Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences have identified a Banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, as the oldest accurately dated tree of its species (*Ficus benghalensis*) at approximately 700 years old. Using high-precision radiocarbon dating, the research refutes previous historical assumptions that linked the tree’s age to colonial-era architecture. This breakthrough, published in the journal *Quaternary Research*, establishes a new scientific protocol for dating tropical broadleaf trees that lack distinct annual growth rings.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scientific Breakthrough in Tree Dating**
* Researchers utilized high-precision radiocarbon dating and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) to determine the tree's age.
* The method involved extracting alpha-cellulose from wood samples collected near the pith of a secondary trunk and an ancient primary branch.
* The study addresses the limitations of conventional dendrochronology (tree-ring dating), which is often ineffective for tropical species lacking distinct annual growth rings.
**Historical Re-evaluation**
* The findings disprove previous assumptions that the tree was planted 300–350 years ago during the late Mughal or early British period.
* Analysis confirms the tree was already 300–400 years old when the historic 'Burra Bunglow' was constructed.
* The tree is now identified as a surviving remnant of a natural forest that once existed in the Munger region.
**Significance of the Banyan Tree**
* Beyond its age, the Banyan provides critical habitats for wildlife, including birds and insects.
* The tree has served as a venue for village assemblies, religious ceremonies, and cultural exchanges for centuries.
* It is now recognized as a "living representation of history" backed by scientific evidence rather than folklore or local lore.
**Impact Analysis**
**Bihar Forest Department**
**Impact**
The department now has a scientifically validated age for a major local landmark, shifting its status from a planted landscape feature to a remnant of a natural forest.
**Action Required**
Update historical records and management plans for the Munger region to reflect the tree's 700-year history and its status as a heritage tree.
**Conservation Agencies and Governments**
**Impact**
Provides a robust, reproducible methodology for identifying and protecting culturally and ecologically significant trees globally.
**Action Required**
Adopt the radiocarbon dating and alpha-cellulose extraction protocol to replace uncertain age estimates with reliable scientific evidence for heritage management.
**Scientific and Research Community**
**Impact**
The research provides a breakthrough in tropical tree dating that can be applied to biodiversity conservation, past climate research, and historical landscape studies.
**Action Required**
Utilize the published methodology and calibration curves (IntCal20) to investigate other ancient tropical species throughout South Asia and beyond.
Key Entities Referenced
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow: An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology that developed the innovative methodology for accurately dating tropical heritage trees.
Dr. Trina Bose: The lead scientist at BSIP who headed the research team and developed the high-precision radiocarbon dating approach for tropical broadleaf species.
Bihar Forest Department: The state agency that commissioned the investigation to determine the age of the Munger Banyan tree for conservation and historical purposes.
Munger, Bihar: The primary location of the 700-year-old banyan tree, which has been identified as the oldest accurately dated tree of its species.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): The central ministry department that oversees the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and supported the research initiative.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Oldest accurately dated Banyan found in
Munger, Bihar
प्रव तथ: 03 JUL 2026 3:43PM by PIB Delhi
A banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the oldest
accurately dated banyan tree, Ficus benghalensis, using radiocarbon dating, a method that relies
exclusively on scientific evidence rather than historical records or local lore
Banyan trees, with their intricate root and branch networks, provide habitats for a variety of wildlife,
including birds and insects. They have also played a significant role in Indian social and cultural life for
centuries. Traditionally, estimating their age relied on folklore, local stories or historical records, which
were often inaccurate. These living representations of history were not scientifically dated previously due
to a lack of a clear protocol. Field sampling and laboratory analyses revealed that the absence of distinct
annual growth rings in most tropical broadleaf trees limited the application of conventional
dendrochronological techniques, emphasising the need for alternative high-precision dating methods,
including radiocarbon dating.
When Dr. Trina Bose from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, an autonomous institute
under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was invited by the Bihar Forest Department to
investigate and determine the age of the Munger Banyan tree, she recognised the limitations of
conventional dating approaches for tropical broadleaf species. To address this challenge, she initiated the
development of a new scientific approach for age determination. Dr. Bose led a research team comprising
Dr. Mayank Shekhar and Dr. Akhilesh K. Yadava, who collaboratively developed and applied an
innovative methodology to establish the age of the tree.
The research team, led by Dr. Bose and comprising Dr. Shekhar and Dr. Yadava, extracted alpha-cellulose,
the most stable primary component of plant cell walls, from wood samples collected near the pith of a
secondary trunk and an ancient primary branch. The pith is particularly important because it represents the
earliest wood formed during the juvenile stage of secondary growth. The extracted cellulose samples were
subjected to high-precision radiocarbon dating using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), followed by
calibration against the latest IntCal20 calibration curve and OxCal software, enabling the team to establish
a robust, reliable estimate of the tree's age.
This finding refutes earlier assumptions that the Munger Banyan was planted in front of the historic 'Burra
Bunglow', which, based on architectural style, dates to the late Mughal-Early British period (~300 to 350
years old), as a venue for dialogue between rulers and common citizens, village assemblies, religious
ceremonies, and cultural exchanges. It establishes that the approximately 700-year-old tree is likely a
surviving remnant of a natural forest that once existed in the region, and that it witnessed the construction
of the building. Hence, this analysis redefines the order of historical events in this region.
The research published in the journal Quaternary Research provides a scientific method for accurately
dating heritage trees, helping governments, forest departments, and conservation agencies identify and
protect culturally and ecologically important trees. It strengthens the preservation of natural and culturalheritage by replacing uncertain age estimates with reliable scientific evidence. The methodology can also
be applied to other ancient tropical trees worldwide and can help biodiversity conservation, heritage
management, environmental education, and research on past climate and historical landscapes.
Fig: Heritage Banyan tree at ITC campus, Munger, Bihar, India. (a) Central composite trunk; the
yellow mark denotes the sampled secondary trunk and branch.
(b) Secondary trunk sampled as TB- MUN-01. (c) Oldest apparent branch sampled as TB-MUN-
02.
This research represents a major breakthrough in the scientific dating of ancient trees in tropical regions,
especially those of cultural significance, such as the Banyan, and will not only help determine the age of
such trees more accurately but also support efforts to preserve natural, historical, and cultural heritage
throughout South Asia and beyond.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2026.10086
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