Exactly, I don't remember, when I was introduced to Fossils. I guess, it might be in 1993, after watching
Jurassic Park in a TV. In Doordarshan, I remember some Science program, where a guy went near a hilly area and picked a Fossil. I was wondering how he got the fossils very easily.
In my school days, I tried to make a fossil by keeping a bushy grass under heavy stones. After a few days, I would remove it and see whether the fossil has been formed or not. But I would find only damp grass.
After so many years, I read an article in
dtNext and I posted about
Ariyalur, the Fossil Town. Then, through Facebook, I befriended the Paleontologist -
Nirmal Rajah, who
unearthed the Treasures of Ariyalur. I shared the article and the video with my friends and was very much interested to visit the place. But, never got a chance.
Fortunately, after a year, I got an opportunity to attend one of my friend's Marriage in Srirangam. I got the invitation just a week before the Wedding. As I didn't have enough time, I couldn't discuss with my friends. I quickly booked a bus ticket and planned my travel.
I messaged a lot of questions to Nirmal and he immediately called and clarified me. He told to search near a Murugan Temple. He even sent the Google Map coordinates for the exact location to visit. I shared this location with my wife and brother. I told my wife, if I am not reachable, then I might be in the Trichy Police Station. On hearing this, my wife told it's better that I stay in the Station and she won't come for my rescual :)
The bus was scheduled on 23rd June '17 at 11:35 PM. Around 10:35 PM, I booked an Ola and it started to pour. The Tambaram region was trashed with intense rains. I was waiting near the Hindu Mission Hospital and was shocked to see the crowd standing below the bridge. As it was a long weekend, many families with kids were waiting for the bus. I felt many in the crowd were leaving Chennai and going to native to spend time with their family. But, I was leaving my family and going to Ariyalur for collecting fossils. I thought, whether nature was trying to signal me to avoid this trip and get back. But, I patiently waited and my bus came at 1:15 AM.
After reaching Srirangam, I searched for 3 lodges and no one provided a Single Non A/C Room. Finally, I got a normal room. Soon after finishing the breakfast, I went to the nearby Auto Stand and asked about a 1-day rental fare for going to Ariyalur. He told Autos won't be feasible for such a long ride. It's better to go in a Car. Luckily, another auto driver had a Car. We agreed about the Rental and Diesel pricing and the journey started.
I was a bit shocked on seeing a board saying Ariyalur is 65 Km away. After 2 hours, we reached the destination. When we reached the Murugan temple that Nirmal had mentioned, the driver told to check with the local people and then start searching. An old man was coming in a cycle. He told us to go to the nearby mines and get permission from the Security. We drove to the mines. I was doubtful as the Officer might deny. I told the Assistant Manager that I am from Chennai and just wanted to see the site and collect a few fossils. It's only for study purposes and doesn't involve commercial reasons. Immediately, he gave permission and told us to be safe as there might be snakes and other poisonous insects below the rocks.
This is the first time, I am visiting a Mine. There are lots of Cement Mines in Ariyalur. Some millions of years back, this was a Sea. Just unbelievable.
Within a Kilometre, we saw lots of excavations with huge Sedimentary rocks embedded with white shells. We parked the car and the driver also got interested and started collecting Fossils.
Fossils are formed in a number of different ways, but most are formed when a plant or animal dies in a watery environment and is buried in mud and silt. Soft tissues quickly decompose leaving the hard bones or shells behind. Over time sediment builds over the top and hardens into rock. As the encased bones decay, minerals seep in replacing the organic material cell by cell in a process called "petrification." Alternatively the bones may completely decay leaving a cast of the organism. The void left behind may then fill with minerals making a stone replica of the organism. [Source: Science Views]
Around noon, we were searching for fossils. We would have spent around 2 hours collecting fossils.
It was time for lunch. We thanked the officer and had lunch in a nearby hotel. I felt that the collection was not enough and wanted to search further. We came back to the quarry near the temple and again started searching.
I managed to collect as much as possible. I could identify only a few shells. While collecting, I had a doubt whether they are fossils or stones or very old Sea Shells.
7. The one on the left is a
Pecten and others are fragments of sea shells probably
Gryphea
We started our return journey and planned to visit
National Fossil Wood Park near
Sathanur. The driver didn't knew about the place. We thought it will be a prominent one and will be easy to identify. The final 1 Km stretch was really bad. The old tar road has been excavated and left without leveling.
The petrified tree trunk is more than 18 metres in length. I asked the Caretaker whether I can touch the fossil tree. Only after touching the fossil, I felt it had a stone-like texture. It appears like a tree, but it's a Stone with Life (which you can experience only if you touch it). Now, I got the confidence that whatever I picked were actual Fossils.
The petrified tree trunk was discovered in 1940 by the Geologist M. S. Krishnan.
Other fossils and broken pieces from the tree are kept in a nearby room.
Soon after returning to Chennai, I Whatsapped the above Photos to Nirmal and he promptly identified them and gave the actual names. I was very much shocked to hear that these fossils are approximately 66 to 68 million years old. He also added that the fossils can tell more about the environment, the depth of the sea (if it's marine fossils) or fresh water animal fossils can indicate a river ecosystem etc. It seems he had heard from one of his Professors that fossils can be found in rocky areas near Kanyakumari. If you want to know more about his Fossil Collections, do check his Facebook page,
How I met the fossils.
My special thanks to Nirmal for guiding and providing enough knowledge about fossils.
