Suspected dinosaur-era fossils found during pond excavation in Jaisalmer, GSI probe ordered

Some of the pieces resemble fossilised wood, while others look like bones. Experts say fossilised wood is not uncommon in western Rajasthan, but the presence of bone-like formations makes this find unusual.

Fatehgarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and the Tehsildar visited the site on Wednesday and inspected the remains.

SDM Fatehgarh Bharatraj Gurjar while talking to The Indian Express on Thursday said, “We got the information that some bones and animal structure was found in Megha village. I visited the village and secured the area. It is not yet confirmed if this is a structure of a dinosaur. The spine part of the animal is visible. We have written to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) asking them to visit the area and confirm the reports. We are expecting officials to arrive at the site next week after which things will be clear.”

Professor of zoology at Government College in Jaisalmer Shyam Sunder Meena said it is too early to draw any conslusions.

“We cannot claim it to be the bones of a dinosaur. Although in the past fossils have been discovered in Jaisalmer area but in this case we must wait for the experts. The bones are visible on the surface as per the photographs rather than coming out from deep excavation. There are chances that it might not be more than 100 years old. We should wait for GSI experts. Only carbon dating and other methods of scientific analysis can determine their true age,” said Meena.

“Some of the structures have the appearance of petrified wood, but there is also a large formation which looks skeletal. This combination suggests that the remains could be millions of years old, possibly belonging to the dinosaur era,” archaeologist Parth Jagani said.

Officials said the suspected fossils were found embedded in stone ridges near the pond, a setting often associated with ancient sedimentary deposits. Fossilised wood has previously been reported from the Thar desert, but the discovery of a skeletal-like structure in combination makes this case notable.

Villagers gathered at the site in large numbers after the discovery, sharing videos and photos of the remains on social media. The unusual find has sparked speculation that the site could provide new evidence of the region’s prehistoric past.

Jaisalmer district, along with Barmer and Kutch in Gujarat, has previously yielded significant dinosaur-era fossils and footprints. For the first time, fossils were found in Thiyat village some time back. After that, a dinosaur footprint was discovered here and in 2023, a dinosaur egg was also found in a safe condition. There is also a fossil plant park in the district where various such items are on display.

Experts say the latest discovery, if authenticated, could add to Rajasthan’s importance as a centre for palaeontological research in India. —With PTI

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