Researchers, who recently made a sensational discovery of tree fossils dating back to some 250 million years (Jurassic age) in the tribal village of Shankarpur inside north Sarguja forest division of Chhattisgarh, were shocked to find the priceless remnants being used for fencing of houses by the local tribal inhabitants.
“We have noticed that some of the tree fossils dating back to Jurassic age have been used for the fencing of houses by the local villagers. The sight has sent shivers down our spine as the thought crossed our minds that some of the priceless fossils may been destroyed by the ignorant tribals in the process,” chief conservator of forests and director of Chhattisgarh state forest research and training institute Krishna Chandra Yadav, who had led a team of researchers including three scientists from the prestigious Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany (BSIP), Lucknow, to make the discovery, told this newspaper here on Wednesday.
Besides, some of the fossils have also been found to be used for building boundary walls of two village wells. Fortunately, vast portion of the plant fossil site, believed to be largest and oldest one found in India till date, appeared still remained untouched.
According to Mr Yadav, the team felt the urgent need for swift action to retrieve the fossils used in boundary walls of houses and wells in the village for their suitable preservation by the forest department. It was also felt that security forces should be deployed in the region to prevent the antique smugglers to raid the site to plunder the treasure trove.