The Department of Archaeology is one of the oldest organizations of the sub-continent, devoted to the reconstruction of the past human history of the century through archaeological exploration and excavation as well as to the preservation of the glorious cultural heritage of the nation. The Department of Archaeology started its journey after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 with the official
denomination the Department of Archaeology and Museums. At that time, it maintained 146 protected sites and monuments along with 8 museums across the country. In that stage of initiation, the Department had a skeleton administrative structure headed by a Director who used to run his business through 3 branches each headed by a Superintendent. The branches are Archaeology, Excavation, and Exploration as well as Publication. In 1983 the Department was reorganized and in 1990 it assumed its present name. Of them, two have been inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage Sites and five are in the tentative list. The department also owns 21 site museums which are the repositories of our moveable cultural heritage of different periods, forms, religions, creeds, and cultures ranging from prehistory to historical era. The department as custodian of the national heritage work under the guidance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Government of the Peopleโs Republic of Bangladesh.
