The Bay of Bengal's pre- and early history has received significantly less scholarly attention than the Southeast Asian Seas or the wider Indian Ocean, despite compelling reasons to consider it a major region for early population transfers, plant exchanges, trade goods, and ideas. From the late prehistoric period (c. 4000–1500 BP), this maritime space functioned as a dynamic zone of human interaction, connecting eastern India, mainland Southeast Asia, and island Southeast Asia. Recent linguistic evidence further suggests that the Thai-Malay Peninsula served as a key dispersal corridor for groups moving into the Bay of Bengal, and the presence of Munda populations in eastern India, originating from the Southeast Asian mainland, remains a critical indicator of these movements. While archaeological evidence is still sparse, cultural and ecological connections are abundant. This session explores them through both direct archaeological data and indirect indicators such as crops, material culture, and trade goods. Maritime technology receives particular focus, as Austronesian boat-building traditions were transmitted along India’s East Coast and into the Maldives. By integrating archaeological, environmental, linguistic, and ethnographic perspectives, this session aims to advance discussions on the emergence of maritime networks, cultural resilience, and ecological adaptation in the early Bay of Bengal.