Geological Survey of India
Fossil Exchange programme between Geological Survey of India and Smithsonian
Institution, Washington DC, USA.
(Scaled Replica partial skull of Narmada hominid (GSI) and skull of Triceratops (SI)
Recently, Curatorial Division, CHQ acquired a simulated replica of Triceratops dinosaurian
skull (one-sixth of the life size) from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian
Institution, Washington DC, USA. The acquisition is part of a mutual ‘Exchange Programme’ on
approval of the Director General, GSI. A replica of the partial skull of Narmada hominid, the oldest
hominid fossil of India in the custody of the GSI Fossil Repository has been sent to the Smithsonian
Institution as the exchange exhibits.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) maintains the Central Fossil Repository system in Kolkata
which facilitates registration of fossil specimens to both GSI and non-GSI researchers. These repository
fossils are preserved permanently and stored at Indian Museum & Central Headquarters of GSI. The
repository system has been operative since middle of the nineteenth century after the inception of GSI in
1851. Historically, a part of the collection is also kept in two GSI fossil galleries at the Indian Museum in
Kolkata. This fossil repository is part of the Curatorial Division affectively under Mission-IV, at the
Central Headquarters (CHQ), GSI, Kolkata.
The Fossil Repository also acquires replica of vital fossil specimens from similar repository and
Museums worldwide & also displayed in Indian Museum.
A brief account of both the fossil specimens are given hereunder:
Triceratops
Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous Ornithischian dinosaur. It lived during the Late Cretaceous
Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in North America and was one of the last survived dinosaurs
roamed on the earth before mass extinction at the end of Cretaceous, 65 m.y. back.
Triceratops with large skull occupying approximately one-third of its body length contained three
horns on its face and a large bony frill at the back of the skull. They were somewhat similar in appearance
to the modern day rhinoceros. An adult Triceratops individual was about 30 ft in length. Its jaws are seen
as sharply projected in front like beak of a bird. Each of the jaws contain 35 small but serrated teeth
arranged in superimposed series. Such teeth arrangement indicates that the animal was fed upon hard and
Contributed by Curatorial Division, Central Headquarter
Geological Survey of India
fibrous vegetable matter prevailing on ground during their existence. Triceratops co-existed on the earth
along with carnivorous Tyrannosaurus rex. The special appendages of Triceratops is believed to be a
protective mechanism against possible attack of T. rex.
The original fossils at the Smithsonian Institution were found in Wyoming in the 1880s. The
composite reconstructed skeleton of Triceratops had been on display in the Smithsonian Institution since
1905, which was remounted on May 24, 2001 facing off with T. rex. There is also a bronze skull of a
1/6th-scale Triceratops, the plastic cast of which is obtained by the GSI as the exchange material.
The mounted composite skeleton of
Triceratops at the Smithsonian Institution
Washington DC, USA.
The scaled (1/6 th of original size)
replica of the skull of Triceratops
received from the Smithsonian
Institution, National Museum of
Natural History, Washington DC,
USA.
Partial skull of Narmada hominid
The partial fossilised skull of Narmada hominid was recovered by GSI (Dr. Arun Sanokia) in 1982
from Middle Pleistocene sediments of Suraj Kuna Formation from Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh. The
fossil specimen has been identified as the partial right side cranium of Homo erectus narmadaensis. This
is the oldest (approximately 3,00,000 years old) hominid record from India and a subject of interest
worldwide.
Contributed by Curatorial Division, Central Headquarter
Geological Survey of India
Homo erectus species is one of the closest ancestor of modern man with comparatively lower
brain capacity. The partial skull fossil of the Narmada hominid show features like slunting forehead,
raised eyebrow region and faint suture lines. The features suggest that the skull belonged to a young adult.
Narmada cranium – front view
Narmada cranium – lateral view
Narmada cranium – reconstructed
* for details please see ‘Fossil Repository’ page of GSI Portal
Contributed by Curatorial Division, Central Headquarter