Himachal Geologist Reports Discovery of 600 Million-Year-Old Fossil in Solan's Jolajoran - 2025
- Siddhi Deshmukhe
- May 22
- 3 min read
Himachal Pradesh News:
The Solan River Valley in Himachal Pradesh is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its significant palaeontological discoveries. It has recently gained attention for its fossil findings, highlighting the region’s rich geological history. A Stromatolite fossil, estimated to be around 600 million years old, was discovered near Chambaghat in Solan district.
Stromatolites are sedimentary formations created by microorganisms like cyanobacteria. Some of the earliest life forms on Earth are recorded in Stromatolites, first appearing in fossil records during the Archean Eon, about 3.5 billion years ago. They give us a detailed record of the evolution of microbial life through various geological eras and give insight into environmental conditions of the planet as far as millions of years ago and its evolution.
Their presence in Solan supports the theory that the region was once part of the Ancient Tethys Ocean, which existed between the ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurasia during the Mesozoic Era. As India drifted away from Gondwana land, it crossed the ancient Tethys Ocean. This movement eventually led to India’s collision with Tibet, and resulting in the formation of the Himalayas.
This discovery is credited to an eminent geologist- Dr. Ritesh Arya, former Director of the Geothermal Section at the International Sustainable Energy Organisation in Geneva and the founder of the Tethys Fossil Musuem, Solan. He believes that the fossils found in the village of Jolajoran are among the oldest evidences of life. He describes Stromatolites as “living stone memoirs” created by cyanobacteria. “These fossils are Earth’s original climate warriors and natural historians, preserving a story that began billions of years ago,” said Dr. Arya. “No stromatolites, no oxygen. We should be thankful to them.”
The laminar stromatolites at Solan are structurally different from the ones from sites like Chitrakoot and Haryana’s Morni Hills. The columnar and conical stromatolites from Chitrakoot also featured in the Discovery Channel’s Legends of Ramayan. This diversity points to a unique paleoenvironmental setting and the geological richness of Chambaghat, according to Dr. Arya. All the stromatolite specimens are currently displayed at the Tethys Fossil Museum.
The fossils from Chambaghat have been documented by institutions like Geological Survey of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, but the site has not yet received formal protection.
Solan district can emerge on geotourism. In every village, fossils can be effortlessly found. Hundreds of them are displayed in the Tethys fossil museum. Dr. Arya is now advocating for the Chambaghat site to be declared as a State Geoheritage Site and promote the area for geotourism and scientific exploration. He believes Chambaghat should be added to the list of fossil parks, which currently has only three- one in Jaisalmer, one in the Vindhyan region and an upcoming site in Sikkim.
The discovery has garnered support from experts. Dr. Jagmohan, former Chief General Manager at ONGC, remarked, “The Chambaghat stromatolites transport us back to when Earth was just beginning to support life. It’s a monumental addition to India’s geoheritage.” Prof. Vinod Tewari, a prominent stromatolite expert and former senior scientist at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, added, “The Chambaghat site could become an important landmark on the global geological map, encouraging international research collaborations in Earth sciences.”
Dr. Arya told the media that he has submitted the findings to an international scientific jury that independently verifies such discoveries. And only after a rigorous protocol-based dating, will this claim gain universal scientific acceptance.
This is not just about fossils, Dr. Arya said. It’s about restoring pride in India’s ancient past. We need to protect these silent storytellers before they’re lost to bulldozers and ignorance.
Please Note: The precise date of the discovery remains unconfirmed; however, this significant finding received extensive media coverage in various news outlets between May 13 and May 15, 2025.
Sources:
Stay in the loop! Tap here to follow our WhatsApp channel for all the latest
Comentarios