Barmer/Jaisalmer, Aug. 23 -- Fossil-like remains believed to be millions of years old have been discovered during pond excavation near Megha village in Fatehgarh subdivision of Jaisalmer district. The discovery includes stone structures resembling petrified wood and a large bone-like formation, sparking speculation that they may have belonged to dinosaurs of some kind. It may be noted here that Jaisalmer already holds a prominent place on India's paleontological map. In earlier excavations, scientists confirmed the presence of dinosaur fossils in the Aakal and Thaiyat areas of the district. These finds included fossilized bones and traces of dinosaur-era vegetation, offering rare insights into prehistoric life in the Thar desert. Jaisalmer's Jethwai-Gajrupsagar hills have already been a major site of paleontological research. In 2018, Geological Survey of India (GSI) scientists - Debasish Bhattacharya, Krishna Kumar, Pragya Pandey, and Triparna Ghosh - began excavations in the area and uncovered fossils of one of the world's earliest herbivorous dinosaurs. The remains, which included numerous vertebrae, along with neck, trunk, tail, and rib bones, were later identified as belonging to a new species, Tharosaurus indicus - literally, the "Dinosaur of the Thar Desert." Before this discovery, dicraeosaurid fossils found in China, dated between 166 and 164 million years old, were considered the oldest. However, the Jaisalmer fossils of Tharosaurus indicus have been dated even earlier - about 167 million years old - pushing back the known timeline of this dinosaur family by one to three million years. The latest find near Megha village, though still under investigation, adds to this legacy and reinforces the possibility that Jaisalmer may once have supported diverse species during the Mesozoic era. If confirmed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the remains could provide further evidence that Rajasthan's desert landscape was once a thriving habitat for dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Following reports of the discovery, officials including the Fatehgarh SDM and Tehsildar inspected the site on Wednesday. A preliminary report has been submitted to higher authorities, and a scientific investigation by ASI experts is expected. Officials said only detailed excavation and laboratory analysis can confirm the age and origin of the remains. Local geologist Narayan Kumar Inkhia said the structure appears to include vertebrate fossils and a bone frame that could measure around six to seven feet in length. "It would be premature to identify these as dinosaur fossils, but their form and structure resemble those of dinosaurs or related species....