RESEARCH ARTICLES CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 123, NO. 6, 25 SEPTEMBER 2022 772 *For correspondence. (e-mail: nayanjot.lahiri@ashoka.edu.in) Exploring the forest and mapping its archaeology: Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, India Nayanjot Lahiri 1, *, M. B. Rajani 2 , Debdutta Sanyal 3 and Samayita Banerjee 3 1 The Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, Sonepat 131 029, India 2 School of Humanities, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru 560 012, India 3 Department of History, Ashoka University, Sonepat 131 029, India The archaeology of historical India has usually been perceived through the lens of cities and states, leaving forest tracts to a large extent unexamined. This article considers the historical signature in a segment of the Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India, in order to understand how histories of occupation in jungles and wilderness where no settle- ments presently exist can be studied. Our survey invol- ved a combination of ground-level investigations using GPS devices along with an analysis of satellite images to explore whether such images can be used for locating structures and sites. The earliest archaeological markers in Bandhavgarh are cave shelters of the 2nd century CE, which form the subject of this article. Keywords: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, caves, forests, Indian archaeology, satellite imagery. FORESTS and wilderness occupied a far larger space in his- toric India as compared to settled domesticated land. And yet, we write about those centuries (c. 6th century BCE–5th century CE) primarily from the perspective of cities and states. Part of the reason is an academic preoccupation with the creation and consolidation of urban life and cul- ture. Equally, monumental remains are most visible around contemporary cities, towns and villages – from mounds and fortifications to sculptural and architectural relics, often with dateable epigraphs – are also the most carefully explo- red. Jungles, in contrast, are remote and usually explored by those interested in wildlife and biodiversity. Thus, the range of monuments and relict remains there are little known. That permission for investigations in reserve forests is mandatory might be another reason why field work is un- common in forests. Additionally, as this paper on Bandha- vgarh underlines, even where the forested terrain has figured, there is a hesitation in exploring the interface bet- ween jungles and the material relics there. The Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve is located on the flanks of Satpura hills of northeastern Madhya Pradesh (Figure 1). Some 716 sq. km constitute the core zone of the tiger reserve. The purpose of this ex- ploration was to take up a segment of the reserve in order to understand how histories of settlements in jungles and wilderness, where no habitations presently exist, can be studied. Our work was focused on the 109 sq. km of the Tala range and a small part of Magdhi in the reserve. Done in four phases, from March 2021 till June 2022, the survey involved a combination of ground-level investiga- tions using GPS devices along with an analysis of satellite images, as has been done in relation to past human activi- ties elsewhere in India 1 . Cave shelters are the earliest his- torical markers in Bandhavgarh, and are examined here. Their cartographic locations and elevations have been provided for the first time in this paper (Figures 2 and 3) which help in understanding their spatial patterning and character. Alongside, cave epigraphs have been juxtaposed, wherever possible, with what the archaeological survey revealed to consider in case some of their details could be verified on the ground. Colonial foresters in the nineteenth century first remar- ked on these caves. One early notice was penned by a British officer, identified as ‘J.M.’. He had visited this area Figure 1. Study area in relation to Madhya Pradesh, India.