| Ghughua Fossil Park | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| Type | National park |
| Location | Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 23°6′38″N 80°36′51″E / 23.11056°N 80.61417°E / 23.11056; 80.61417 |
| Area | 75 acres (0.30 km2)[1] |
Ghughua Fossil Park is a National Park, located near ShahpurainMadhya Pradesh, India, in which plant fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 families have been identified.[2]
The site was founded during the 1970s by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, a statistical officer of the Mandla district and honorary secretary of the district archaeology unit. It was declared a National Park in 1983.[3] Numerous plant, leaf, fruit, seed, and shell fossils can be found in this park, some of which date as far back as 65 million years,[3] the most prominent of which are the palm fossils.[2]
Aeucalyptus fossil found at Ghughua is the oldest fossil of its type ever discovered and this find supports its origins from Gondwana.[4] Additional notable discoveries include a dinosaur egg fossil.[5]
Ghughua Fossil Park is located near National Highway 11. It is situated 14 km from Shahpura and 76 km from Jabalpur.[2]
