The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has discovered a fossil bed in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi, dating to the Holocene period around 8,000-12,000 years ago, enriching India’s Quaternary fossil record. The find followed a 2023 survey of sites exposed by torrential rains that washed away topsoil and sediments. It offers better understanding of the ancient wildlife, environment and climate.