A 700-year old Banyan tree in Bihar's Munger just entered history books, here's why

FOr centuries, the eld of India's antediluvian east indian fig tree trees has for the most part been a thing of folklore, local legends and historical records. Now, scientists have, for the first time, accurately dated one using radiocarbon analysis.A banyan tree in Bihar's Munger, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the oldest accurately dated banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) using radiocarbon dating - a method based entirely on scientific evidence rather than oral histories or historical accounts, according to a PIB press release. Also Read | Lovely, dark and deep: The lessons ancient trees can teach usRadiocarbon dating and the oldest Banyan treeBanyan trees, with their vast canopies and intricate networks of roots and branches, support diverse ecosystems by providing habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife.They have also occupied a central place in India's social and cultural life for centuries. Yet determining their age has remained a challenge. Unlike many temperate trees, tropical broadleaf species such as banyans lack distinct annual growth rings, making conventional dendrochronological methods ineffective. As a result, age estimates have historically depended on folklore, local narratives or historical documentation, often leading to uncertainty.Also Read | ‘Rooted sentinels’: These trees have tales to tellPre-dating the Banyan treeThe breakthrough came when Dr Trina Bose of 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 determine the age of the Munger banyan. Recognising the limitations of existing dating techniques for tropical broadleaf trees, she initiated the development of a new scientific approach.Working with Dr. Mayank Shekhar and Dr. Akhilesh K. Yadava, Dr. Bose developed and applied an innovative methodology to estimate the tree's age. The researchers extracted alpha-cellulose - the most stable primary component of plant cell walls - from wood samples collected near the pith of a secondary trunk and from an ancient primary branch. The pith was crucial because it represents the earliest wood formed during the tree's juvenile stage of secondary growth.The cellulose samples were then analysed using high-precision radiocarbon dating through Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The results were calibrated using the latest IntCal20 calibration curve and OxCal software, enabling the researchers to establish a robust and reliable estimate of the tree's age.The findings also overturn a long-held assumption about the tree's history. It was previously believed that the banyan had been planted in front of the historic Burra Bunglow, a structure dating to the late Mughal-Early British period, around 300 to 350 years ago, where rulers and common citizens gathered for discussions, village assemblies, religious ceremonies and cultural exchanges.Banyan predates historic Burra BunglowInstead, the study concludes that the banyan predates the building by several centuries. The approximately 700-year-old tree is likely a surviving remnant of a natural forest that once covered the region and would have witnessed the construction of the Burra Bunglow itself, effectively rewriting the area's historical timeline.Published in the journal Quaternary Research, the study introduces a scientific framework for accurately dating heritage trees. The method could help governments, forest departments and conservation agencies identify and protect culturally and ecologically significant trees by replacing uncertain age estimates with reliable scientific evidence.Researchers say the methodology can also be applied to other ancient tropical trees around the world, with potential applications in biodiversity conservation, heritage management, environmental education and studies of past climates and historical landscapes.The research marks a significant breakthrough in dating ancient tropical trees, particularly culturally important species such as the banyan, and could strengthen efforts to preserve natural, historical and cultural heritage across South Asia and beyond.