Ancient ptilophyllum fossils found in Rajmahal Hills

In a significant palaeobotanical discovery, ptilophyllum fossils — leaf imprints preserved in sedimentary rocks — were unearthed on Friday at a newly excavated pond in the Chota Kesh, Chipri Pahar area of Sahibganj district, Jharkhand. The site, located under Sahri Panchayat, lies approximately 85 kilometres from Sahibganj town. Ptilophyllum is an extinct genus of leaves belonging to the seed plant order Bennettitales (now extinct).

The serendipitous discovery occurred when Anil Besra, a Railway School teacher, and a former student of noted geologist Dr. Ranjit Kumar Singh visited the village for a wedding ceremony. During an afternoon bath at the village pond, Besra noticed numerous rocks bearing distinct leaf impressions. The fossils, scattered throughout the excavated pond area, displayed clear plant lamina dating back 68-148 million years.

Dr. Singh, an eminent geologist and principal of Model College, Rajmahal's geology department, promptly visited the site to verify the discovery. He confirmed that these fossils originated from the Cretaceous period, approximately 145 million years ago. "These prehistoric imprints are invaluable for understanding past climate changes, global warming patterns, and mass extinction events that have impacted Earth over millions of years," Dr. Singh explained.

The Rajmahal hills range, situated in the Santhal Pargana division, has long been recognized as a significant palaeontological site. Its extensive collection of plant and animal fossils, dating from 68 to 148 million years ago, has attracted international attention from geological and palaeobotanical researchers. These Jurassic-era specimens provide crucial evidence for understanding evolutionary processes, from early dinosaurs to the development of birds and diverse flora and fauna.

Recent discoveries in the region have been particularly noteworthy. A previous excavation in Vrindavan village, Taljhari Block, yielded a petrified plant fossil measuring 4 feet in height with a 7-8 foot base. More recently, in February, Dr. Singh's team discovered a remarkable 20-foot petrified tree fossil, fragmented into 14 pieces, in Barmasiya village, Pakur district.

"This represents our largest petrified fossil discovery to date," noted Dr. Singh, expressing optimism about future findings. "The region's rich palaeontological history suggests the possibility of discovering dinosaur fossils through more extensive exploration efforts."

These continuing discoveries underscore the Rajmahal hills' importance as a crucial site for understanding Earth's prehistoric past and evolutionary history.