In MP, a tribal shrine turns out to be 65-million-year-old rare coral fossil
Archaeologists in Madhya Pradesh have identified a sacred stone worshipped by the Baiga tribe as a 65-million-year-old coral fossil. The discovery highlights the intersection of indigenous cultural preservation and geological history dating back to the dinosaur era.
Why it matters
It bridges the gap between ancient tribal traditions and scientific discovery, showcasing how indigenous communities have inadvertently preserved rare geological artifacts for millennia.
BHOPAL: The Baigas guarded a stone for centuries because it felt sacred. Science has revealed why it was extraordinary - a 65-million-year-old secret preserved in a forest shrine.A relic from when T-Rex ruled North America and Rajasaurus narmadensis stalked volcanic plains in India.The Madhya Pradesh directorate of archaeology, archives and museums recently identified the strange, temple-like formation deep in the jungles of Dindori district as a rare coral fossil from the twilight of the dinosaurs.A team documenting Dindori's little-explored geological wealth first spotted photographs of the unusual formation worshipped by the Baiga indigenous people.Its layered, coral-like appearance raised questions. A field visit and several tests followed.ASI archaeologist Dr Manoj Kumar Kurmi said the tradition surrounding the stone shrine could date to 8,000-10,000 years ago, although human presence in the region is much older."Back then, there were no temples in the architectural sense.
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