TNI Bureau: A 15-million-year-old fossil discovery in Baripada area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has revealed that the region was once part of a shallow sea, offering new insights into its prehistoric marine ecosystem.

The fossils were found at the Baripada Fossil Bed, stretching from Dera in Kuliana block to Pratappur in Badasahi block, and are believed to date back to the Miocene epoch.

Researchers from Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo (MSCB) University said that large parts of present-day Baripada and nearby areas were once under a shallow marine environment. The fossils include shark teeth, fish bones, mollusc shells, and microscopic marine organisms, indicating a rich underwater ecosystem.

Dr. Debabrata Nandi said the discovery began during a student field visit when fossil-like remains were first noticed and later confirmed through scientific study. Scientists are now studying how the sea retreated nearly 60 km from present-day Baripada and are working with experts to understand the full significance of the findings.

Experts have called for protection of the site, noting its potential to be developed as a geo-heritage and geo-tourism destination in Odisha.