The history of Godda has not yet been documented properly. The finds in excavations in various parts confirms that people inhabited this area during stone age. Stone weapons and tools such as axes, hammers, arrow-leads or agricultural implements have been found in the Santal Pargana in recent years. This area would have also been inhabited by people during early Vedic age . Megasthenes's account of travel in India, who visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya at Patliputra in 302 B.C, mentions the race inhabiting the area as ''Maller'' (Souria Paharia). Hiuen Tsang - a Chines pilgrim, who visited Champa about 645 A.D, gave some further information about this area. During that period the area of Santhal Pargana was under the Pal rule. He was a great patron of Buddhism . Signs of devi worship are available in the area which clearly signifies that the area had an impact of Buddha religion and Tantric sect. There is an interesting reference to this area in the Brahmanda Section of Bhavishyat Puran which was probably compiled in the 15th or 16th century A.D from ancient materials. This area had strategic importance during Turko - Afgan and Mughal rules in India in getting possession over Bengal. By 1717 the Santal tribe which inhabited Chhotanagpur were initiated to settle in Santal Pargana by the Britishers for countering the obstacles created by the Paharias, another tribe of the area. They succeeded in their efforts up to some extent. After some time Santals themselves became victims of British exploitation and finally they rebelled. The rebel in 1855 was termed as "Hul". British rule them carved out the Santal Pargana as a district from from Bhagalpur and Birbhum to tackle Santals. Godda was made a subdivision of Santal Pargana in 1855. This subdivision was given status of a district in 1983. It was then in Bihar state. When Jharkhand was carved out from Bihar as a state in 2000, Godda automatically became a district of Jharkhand.