‘Dickinsonia fossil’ found in Bhimbetka

Context: 

Fossils of an extinct species of animal that scientists reported in a sensational discovery from India’s Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in 2021 have been found to be belied hopes.

About the news: 

• In March 2020, Dr. Retallack, a Professor of palaeontology at the University of Oregon, and some other researchers spotted by chance what looked like a 44cm wide fossil of Dickinsonia, an animal that lived at least 538 million years ago, in a cave. 
• Dickinsonia fossils in other parts of the world have indicated it was circular or oval in shape, somewhat flat, with rib­like structures radiating from a central column
• They published a paper describing their findings in February 2021.
• Joseph Meert- Professor of geology at the University of Florida, visited the same Bhimbetka cave in December 2022, he found some discrepancies with the other fossil finds.
• He concluded that the impression resulted from decay of a modern beehive which was attached to a fractured rock surface.
• Dr Retallack has acknowledged that they are planning to correct their paper.
• While the fossils were believed to be legitimate, they suggested that the youngest Upper Vindhyan sediments were 540 million years old; the rock shelters are located in this area. 
• But now that the finding has been overturned, the age of the Upper Vindhyan remains contested. 

News Source: The Hindu