Interview with Diganta Narzary
Diganta Narzary, a scientist at the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, discovered a dinosaur egg fossil at Assam's Manas National Park in October 2006. amarjyoti borah talks to him about the importance of the discovery in terms of the geology of north-eastern India
The discovery The egg is 30-cm long, 24-cm wide and weighs 16 kg. With a thin amnion layer inside, its upper shell is brown in colour and the inner side is of dark-gray colour. Microscopic observation of shell sectioning revealed calcium deposition which is a clue for the fossil indication. However, more research is needed to ascertain if it's a dinosaur's egg.
North-eastern hub Till date, no other discovery of dinosaur's egg was reported from the region.The world's largest fossilised dinosaur egg (41 cm in length) was discovered by South Korean palaeontologists in 2000. Most such discoveries have been reported from China. This means, the land mass including China and north-eastern India, due to its biodiversity and geographic positioning, was conducive for dinosaurs.
More research The fossil's age dating is in progress. Knowing about the habitat and other remains can confirm the species. If other characteristics of the egg can be studied, it can reveal more about the evolution of life. It will help predict the pre-historic life scenario in Assam and its neighbouring areas.