Unveiling the Ancient Khiroda River System of Historical Devaparvata: A GIS-based Predictive Study

By : Nazmul Alam Ridoy, Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Khan

Page No: 253-276

Abstract
The Lalmai-Mainamati hill region, which is also called Devaparvata, is a tentatively listed UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Cumilla, Bangladesh. It was an important Buddhist centre in ancient Samatata during the early medieval period. The Khadga, Deva, Chandra and other dynasties all ruled over this area. There are over 55 archaeological sites in this area. The Khiroda River played vital role in transportation, trade, defence, and water management in the past, and it was a key part of Devaparvata’s growth. Even though it is very important, modern spatial studies have not yet mapped out the Khiroda River’s historical course or paleochannels. This study aims to predictively visualise the river’s old path using a mixed-methods approach that combines ground-truthing, remote sensing, GIS-based mapping, and historical data to explore how it affected Devaparvata’s settlement, trade networks, and urban growth in early South Asia. The study also highlights the river’s strategic importance in shaping the socioeconomic and cultural landscape of Devaparvata, particularly concerning the development of Buddhist institutions and trade. The results show the link of Khiroda to present rivers and why it is considered a river system that has also been focused on here. Map-based graphical representation of paleochannels using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing shows that there is a complex network of water systems connecting defence, agriculture, and religious sites of Lalmai-Mainamati. Overall, it shows how GIS and satellite images can help us remap/understand the river systems that are important to heritage landscapes but have been lost. Putting riverine infrastructure in the context of its role in early urbanisation and cultural exchange in South and Southeast Asia adds to bigger conversations in archaeology and history. More long-term, interdisciplinary morescientific research is needed to establish these results and protect this riverine heritage.

Authors
Nazmul Alam Ridoy : MSc (ongoing) in Remote Sensing and GIS, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh; MSS and BSS in Archaeology, Comilla University, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Khan : Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, Comilla University, Bangladesh.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/SEAR.2025.50.14