National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

This park covers an area of about 75 acres in Ghughwa, Umaria, Deorakhurd, Barb Spur, Chanti-hills, Chargaon and Deori Kohani villages. The fossil record consists of mainly plants belonging to the topmost Cretaceous to early Tertiary periods dating back to about 65 million years. Fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 plant families have been identified in this park. About 65 million years ago, this area was covered by forests similar to the evergreen and semi evergreen forests of the present Western Ghats and northeast India.

The forests were made up of moisture-loving plants. There was a three-tier forest structure consisting of low trees or shrubs growing below moderate to large-sized trees. The middle level had mostly palm-like trees. Ghughua enjoyed a humid and equatorial climate in ancient times, with uniform temperatures throughout the year and an annual rainfall above 2,000 mm or more, as compared to about 1400 mm now. It is said that it also had a very long rainy season during those times.

Mollusk fossils found here as well as at Matka-Deorikhohani, Palasunder, Silthar-Chanti Hills and Chargaon, indicates the presence of a large waterbody in these areas in those times. Some scientists postulated that an ancient branch of the sea called the Tethys Sea extended up to this area. The park has well preserved fossils of woody plants, climbers, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and shell fossils. Some of the fossilized plants include ancient forms of date palm, neem, jamun, banana, rudraksh, jackfruit and aonla.

The most prominent fossils found here are the palm fossils. Many of these fossil plants have living relatives. Some of these occur in the Western Ghats, Sikkim, and northeast India, while many others are native to Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. The presence of the species native to these countries proves that at one point of time in the distant history of the earth, India, Australia, and Africa formed a single huge landmass called Gondwana.

Petrified trunks of trees have been identified as gymnosperms and Angiosperms Monocotyledons and palms. There are certain Bryophytes also. A eucalyptus fossil found at Ghughua is the oldest fossil of its type ever discovered and are native to Australia. This fossil originally belongs to Gondwana. The dinosaur egg fossil is one of the impressive fossils discovered in this park. There is an interpretation centre situated in the park. It provides comprehensive information on the fossils found here.