Ancient Marine Fossils Reveal Baripada Was Under Sea Millions of Years Ago

A remarkable fossil discovery in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district has revealed that present-day Baripada , located nearly 60 kilometres from the Bay of Bengal coastline, was once submerged beneath a shallow sea millions of years ago. The finding, which includes fossilised shark teeth, molluscan shells and other marine remains , is offering scientists a rare glimpse into the region's prehistoric marine ecosystem and the geological forces that reshaped India's eastern coastline.

The fossils, estimated to be between 12.6 million and 8.3 million years old , were documented by Dr Debabrata Nandi , Assistant Professor in the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo (MSCB) University , Baripada. The fossils were discovered at the Baripada Fossil Bed , locally known as Asurahada , situated in the foothill region near Baripada, the headquarters of Mayurbhanj district in northern Odisha.

Located about 250 kilometres north of Bhubaneswar on the banks of the Budhabalanga River , Baripada is today a thriving inland town. However, scientists say the fossil-bearing sediments indicate that the region was once part of a shallow coastal marine basin connected to the sea during the Miocene Epoch , a period marked by significant climatic changes, continental shifts and fluctuations in global sea levels.

The fossil-rich Baripada Beds extend across several villages in the region, including Mukurmatia, Itamundia, Satpautia and Usurudihi . Among these, Mukurmatia village , located around 10 kilometres south of Baripada near a bend of the Budhabalanga River, has emerged as one of India's most important Miocene fossil localities and has yielded numerous marine fossils over the years.

Among the most significant finds are fossilised teeth belonging to extinct shark species. Scientists say these fossils are helping reconstruct ancient ocean ecosystems, biodiversity patterns and food chains that existed millions of years ago. Earlier studies from the Baripada Beds have also reported fossils of rays, fish, oysters, gastropods, bivalves, crabs, turtles and microscopic marine organisms, making the site one of India's richest marine fossil localities.

The discovery has renewed interest in the theory of marine transgression , a geological process in which rising sea levels push seawater inland. Researchers believe the coastline of the Bay of Bengal once extended much closer to Baripada before gradually retreating eastward due to a combination of climate change, tectonic activity and sediment deposition. Understanding why the sea receded nearly 60 kilometres could provide crucial insights into the geological evolution of eastern India.

Beyond its regional significance, the fossil bed is emerging as an important archive for studying India's palaeogeographic history . Scientists believe the fossils can help trace ancient marine migration routes and establish links with similar fossil-bearing formations in Gujarat, Kutch, Mizoram and other parts of the world.

The fossils also preserve evidence from a period when Earth experienced global cooling, expanding polar ice sheets and major environmental transformations. As a result, the site could offer valuable clues about how marine ecosystems responded to past climate shifts, helping scientists better understand long-term environmental change.

Given its scientific importance, geologists and heritage experts have urged authorities to protect the area as a Geo-Heritage Site . There have also been proposals to establish a Marine Fossil Park in Mayurbhanj, ensuring the preservation of this unique geological treasure and promoting research, education and geotourism around one of India's most significant prehistoric marine landscapes.