37,000-year-old Bamboo from Manipur
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: PIB
Subject: Mapping
Context: Scientists from BSIP (DST) discovered a 37,000-year-old thorny bamboo fossil in the silt-rich deposits of the Chirang River, Manipur, revealing the earliest evidence of thorniness in Asian bamboo.
About 37,000-year-old Bamboo from Manipur:
• What it is?
• A remarkably preserved Ice Age–era bamboo fossil belonging to the genus Chimonobambusa, found with clear thorn scars, nodes and buds — features that almost never fossilise due to bamboo’s hollow, fragile structure.
• A remarkably preserved Ice Age–era bamboo fossil belonging to the genus Chimonobambusa, found with clear thorn scars, nodes and buds — features that almost never fossilise due to bamboo’s hollow, fragile structure.
• Discovery:
• Microscopic analysis confirmed it as Chimonobambusa manipurensis, showing traits similar to modern thorny bamboos like Bambusa bambos.
• Microscopic analysis confirmed it as Chimonobambusa manipurensis, showing traits similar to modern thorny bamboos like Bambusa bambos.
• Significance:
• Earliest fossil evidence of thorny bamboo in Asia, proving that herbivore-defence traits evolved before or during the Ice Age. Shows that Northeast India acted as a climatic refugium while harsh Ice Age conditions wiped bamboo out from regions like Europe. Offers rare insight into palaeoclimate, plant evolution, and biodiversity resilience in the Indo-Burma hotspot. Preservation of delicate structures (thorn scars, buds) marks a major palaeobotanical milestone, helping reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
• Earliest fossil evidence of thorny bamboo in Asia, proving that herbivore-defence traits evolved before or during the Ice Age.
• Shows that Northeast India acted as a climatic refugium while harsh Ice Age conditions wiped bamboo out from regions like Europe.
• Offers rare insight into palaeoclimate, plant evolution, and biodiversity resilience in the Indo-Burma hotspot.
• Preservation of delicate structures (thorn scars, buds) marks a major palaeobotanical milestone, helping reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
About Manipur:
• Location:
• Manipur lies on India’s eastern frontier, positioned between 23.83°N–25.68°N latitudes and 93.03°E–94.78°E longitudes. It covers an area of 22,327 sq. km, comprising a central valley surrounded by highlands.
• Manipur lies on India’s eastern frontier, positioned between 23.83°N–25.68°N latitudes and 93.03°E–94.78°E longitudes.
• It covers an area of 22,327 sq. km, comprising a central valley surrounded by highlands.
• Neighbouring States & Nations: Myanmar (Burma), Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram and Myanmar.
• Geographical Features:
• Manipur consists of two major physical regions:
• Hills (≈ 90% of total area) Surround the valley on all sides, forming a protective mountain ring. Higher elevations in the northern ranges, gradually decreasing toward the south.
• Surround the valley on all sides, forming a protective mountain ring.
• Higher elevations in the northern ranges, gradually decreasing toward the south.
• Valley (≈ 10% of the area)
• The central Manipur Valley sits at about 790 metres above sea level. The valley slopes gently southward, forming a natural drainage pathway.
• The central Manipur Valley sits at about 790 metres above sea level.
• The valley slopes gently southward, forming a natural drainage pathway.
• Chirang River: The Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley hosts silt-rich sediment deposits that preserve plant remains, including the newly discovered 37,000-year-old bamboo fossil.
• The Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley hosts silt-rich sediment deposits that preserve plant remains, including the newly discovered 37,000-year-old bamboo fossil.