Bhubaneswar, June 25: Dr. Debabrata Nandi (Researcher/ Professor in The Department of (Geographic Information System (GIS) at the Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo University (MSCBU) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has discovered ancient fossils estimated to be dating back from 15- million-years.
Dr. Nandi, an Assistant Professor who specialises in Remote Sensing at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo University, has discovered the fossil bed containing microfossils, shark teeth, shark vertebrae, and unidentified fossils.
Collaborating with various paleontology institutes, he aims to further identify these fossils, which are estimated to be from the Messinian period, approximately 15 million years ago.
Located in the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, this site suggests a former marine belt, despite now being 60 kilometers from the sea, raising questions about climate change or natural disasters.
Dr. Nandi proposes that this site could be developed into a fossil park or geo-heritage site to attract tourism and facilitate research, though formal government recognition awaits further study and publication.
Following Dr. Nandi’s revelation, the site has pulled crowds of students, visitors, nature lovers, geo-researchers and geologists, who are found collecting panoramic shots of the views and collects lucrative samples from the ground.
