40 million-year-old rare fossil structure found in Meghalaya

(Photo: Core Geo Expedition/Gregory Allya Warjri)

Shillong: A team of explorers from Core Geo Expedition has discovered rare fossil structures in Meghalaya that are estimated to be around 30 to 40 million years old.

The discovery of a fossil structure in the remote Gongdap village near Tolegre in South Garo Hills district was made during their exploration in February, 2024.

Tolegre village is about 10 km from the famous town of Siju and is also the place where the group of explorers undertook a three-week expedition of the subterranean parts of the area where the apparent discovery was made.

Scientists from Geological Survey of India (GSI) is examining the discovery of the fossil structure.

“A palaeontologist from GSI had come earlier to check and we are expecting the main GSI team to come soon to verify the exact age and type of species,” Shivansh Avasthi, the district magistrate of South Garo Hills, said.

“Preliminary investigations by the GSI team, the fossil appears to be 35-40 million years old. However testing will be needed to verify the exact age and type of species after the same is extracted by the GSI team, in a lab,” Avasthi said.

The Core Geo Expedition team, comprising Tudor Tamas, Milton Sangma and Salban Manda, said that they have traversed over 9 km of subterranean passages in the region.

“After consulting with colleagues, we think that this fossil dates back about 35-40 million years ago and belongs to either the genus Rhodocetus or Ambulocetus, both of which are now extinct. We believe it is likely that this is the first of its kind found in India.

"This obviously needs to be verified through the right channels and authorised personnel,” Ayush Singh and Thomas Arbenz of the Core Geo Expedition said.

Rhodocetus or Ambulocetus a prehistoric animal which is believed to be the land ancestor of the whale.

The Core Geo Expedition urged the Meghalaya government on the need to urgently examining the site as the fossil is vulnerable to natural and human forces and could be lost during the onset of the monsoon season.

“This fossil holds immense scientific significance, potentially marking the first of its kind discovered in India. It is imperative that it be examined promptly to unravel its secrets and contribute to our understanding of prehistoric life,” the Core Geo Explorers said.