Ghughua Fossil Park | |
Type: | National park |
Map: | India Madhya Pradesh |
Location: | Madhya Pradesh, India |
Area: | [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]
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]
Ghughua Fossil Park is located near National Highway 11. It is situated 14 km from Shahpura and 76 km from Jabalpur.[2]