Lets know about the reality of fossil found in Maihar Sandstone… Vindhyan supergroup/ Dickinsonia tenuis
Gregory Retallack, a well-known American researcher, and his team claimed in a 2021 research paper that the Bhimbetka Cave Shelter in the Maiher sandstone rocks, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Vindhyan basin of Madhya Pradesh, India, contained fossils of a multicellular organism called Dickinsonia tenuis from the Ediacaran period. However, subsequent investigation revealed that this claim was incorrect, disappointing scientists involved in fossil studies.
It appears that Gregory Retallack and his team may have rushed their study and paper, as the claimed fossils were later identified as beehive impressions. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow (BSIP), with extensive experience in Vindhya Basin studies, including Dr. Mukund Sharma, Dr. S.K. Pandey, and Dr. Shamim Ahmed, played a crucial role in confirming this discovery with factual evidence.
Over the past several years, scientists from both India and abroad have been conducting studies in this area, uncovering numerous fossils. The anticipation of finding Dickinsonia tenuis has been high. Dr. Sharma clarified that the structure of Dickinsonia fossils and beehive impressions can be misleading when observed from a distance. However, with thorough examination, distinguishing between fossils and impressions becomes relatively straightforward. It is suggested that Gregory Retallack may have inferred the presence of Dickinsonia fossils based on remote observations of the rocks.
Ediacaran Period and Dickinsonia tenuis
The Ediacaran period holds significance for fossil studies, particularly due to the discovery of organisms like Dickinsonia tenuis. Fossils from this period, approximately 570 million years ago (period began- 63.5 crore years ago and ended 54 crore years ago), provide insights into early multicellular life on Earth. Some structures from the Ediacaran period remain puzzling to scientists. Dickinsonia tenuis stands out as one of the first multicellular organisms identified from this era, offering valuable information about the Earth's early stages between
The fossils of Dickinsonia tenuis are intriguing because no similar creature exists today, making the study of its structure challenging and fascinating. As one of the earliest multicellular organisms on Earth following unicellular life, it remains a focal point for biologists and paleontologists. Research on these fossils indicates the presence of limited organs, such as digestive organs, crucial for their survival. These creatures are thought to have been smooth, oval-shaped, and flat-looking. Fossils of Dickinsonia tenuis have been discovered in various locations worldwide, and there are optimistic expectations of finding them in the Maihar Sandstone as well.
This is what the fossils of Dickinsonia tenuis look like
Fossil of Dickinsonia tenuis
What happened that brought Gregory Retallack's study into question?
Dr. Mukund Sharma, Dr. SK Pandey, and Dr. Shamim Ahmed, who have extensive experience studying the area, questioned Gregory Retallack's study when they conducted their own investigation. Instead of finding Dickinsonia fossils, they discovered signs of beehives in the rocks. Dr. Sharma emphasized that real fossils are flat on the rock surface with deep impressions, making them impossible to observe from a distance. The team stressed the need for on-site investigation and sample collection to draw accurate conclusions about fossils. Despite restrictions at the UNESCO site, the scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) obtained permission from the Archaeological Survey of India and UNESCO to approach the protected area. On-site, they collected samples for laboratory testing. Laser Raman Spectroscopy and X-RAY Diffraction revealed trace amounts of bee-related compounds and substances like hexadecenoic acid or palmitic acid from beeswax in the collected samples, confirming the presence of beehives rather than Dickinsonia fossils.
During the study, numerous marks were observed on the rocks nearby, and a beehive was also spotted at a short distance
What is Vindhyan Supergroup?
The Vindhyan Supergroup is the oldest basin in the world where numerous fossils have been unearthed, providing valuable insights into the Earth's early stages and the origin of life. This basin, with a history spanning about one billion years, began around 1700 million years ago and ceased development approximately 600 million years ago. As a repository of fossils from the Ediacaran period, it has played a crucial role in understanding early life on Earth. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences have made significant discoveries in this basin and have published related research papers.
What is a basin?
A basin is a geological formation that resembles a bowl, with sides higher than the bottom. It can have an oval or circular shape, similar to a sink or tub in a bathroom. In the context of the Vindhyan Supergroup, it refers to the geological structure that has preserved the ancient history and fossils of the region.
By
P.D.Saxena
Credit:
Jour. Geol. Soc. India (2023) 99:311-316 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2312-2
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Dickinsonia tenuis reported by Retallack et al. 2021 is not a fossil, instead an impression of an extant 'fallen beehive'
S.K. Pandey, Shamim Ahmad and Mukund Sharma'
'Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow - 226 007, India Present address: Centre for Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru-560 012, India
E-mail: skpandey@bsip.res.in*: shamimfragrence@gmail.com; mukund_sharma@bsip.res.in
Received: 11 January 2023/ Revised form Accepted: 15 January 2023
2023 Geological Society of India, Bengaluru, India
That study also published in JGSI in March issue.