A banyan tree in Bihar's Munger, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the oldest accurately dated banyan tree using radiocarbon dating.This breakthrough overturns previous assumptions about the tree's history, revealing it predates the historic Burra Bunglow by several centuries.

Scientists developed a new methodology involving alpha-cellulose extraction and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) to determine the tree's age, calibrated with the IntCal20 curve.

The study, published in Quaternary Research, introduces a scientific framework for dating heritage trees, aiding conservation efforts and historical research.

The tree's age challenges traditional narratives, highlighting its role as a natural remnant of a former forest and its significance for biodiversity and cultural heritage.

This discovery underscores the importance of scientific evidence over folklore in understanding historical ecosystems and human interactions with nature.