Ghughua Fossil Park
Ghughua Fossil Park is located in Madhya Pradesh
Ghughua Fossil Park
TypeNational park
LocationMadhya Pradesh, India
Coordinates23°6′38″N 80°36′51″E / 23.11056°N 80.61417°E / 23.11056; 80.61417
Area75 acres (0.30 km2)[1]

Ghughua Fossil Park is a National Park, located near Shahpura in Madhya Pradesh, India, in which plant fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 families have been identified.[2]

The site was founded during the 1970s by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, a statistical officer of the Mandla district and honorary secretary of the district archaeology unit. It was declared a National Park in 1983.[3] Numerous plant, leaf, fruit, seed, and shell fossils can be found in this park, some of which date as far back as 65 million years,[3] the most prominent of which are the palm fossils.[2]

Notable fossils

A eucalyptus fossil found at Ghughua is the oldest fossil of its type ever discovered and this find supports its origins from Gondwana.[4] Additional notable discoveries include a dinosaur egg fossil.[5]

Transportation

Ghughua Fossil Park is located near National Highway 11. It is situated 14 km from Shahpura and 76 km from Jabalpur.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dindori district - Points of Interest". Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Fossil National Park Ghughua (65 Million Year Old Heritage)". National Information Centre. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Mishra, Girima (17 January 2010). "A dino egg and other fossils". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  4. ^ Anumeha Shukla, R.C.Mehrotra, Antariksh Tyagi. "Research Communications" (PDF). Current Science Vol 103. No.1. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  5. ^ Kumar, Vikas (21 February 2011). "6.5 crore-year-old fossil in Ghughua". The Sunday Indian. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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