Fossil Wood Unearthed in Godavari Basin
The presence of nearby megalithic remains points to cultural continuity from the Stone Age through the Mesolithic to the Megalithic period, establishing Mulugu’s fossil land as a multi-period archaeological landscape.
Hyderabad: Wood fossils believed to be around 160 years old have been discovered in the Godavari Basin of Mulugu district, following systematic field investigations across stretches from Mulkalapalli to Bhupatipur and from Saravai to the Devadula pipeline corridor.
Extensive surveys by Kondaveeti Gopi, Ahobilam Karunakar and Mohammed Naseeruddin documented large concentrations of petrified wood, including silicified tree trunks with clearly visible growth rings. The team also recorded prehistoric stone tools such as cores and flakes.
The close association of fossil wood with lower Palaeolithic and Mesolithic artefacts provides strong evidence that early humans interacted closely with forested and riverine ecosystems in the region. Researchers say this supports the interpretation of the Godavari basin as a long-term zone of human habitation and activity.
Further, the presence of nearby megalithic remains points to cultural continuity from the Stone Age through the Mesolithic to the Megalithic period, establishing Mulugu’s fossil land as a multi-period archaeological landscape.