Stinging News: 'Dickinsonia' discovered in the Upper Vindhyan of India not worth the buzz

A recent report of Dickinsonia tenuis 'hiding in plain sight' at the Bhimbetka rock shelters in rocks of the Maihar sandstone (Upper Vindhyan) has important implications for paleogeography and the age of the Upper Vindhyan. We visited the site in December 2022 and found the evidence for Dickisonia lacking. The 'fossil' resembles decayed parts of modern Apis dorsata (giant honeybees) hives. In this contribution, we note the structural similarities between Dickinsonia and honey and pollen stores of recently decayed bee nests. A closer view of the photos provided in the original paper reveals honeycombed structures within the purported fossil. We also note that the fossil is not located on a bedding surface and is not a part of the rock, but rather is attached as a 'tracery of waxy material' above the surface. The remaining paleogeographic conclusions of that paper are also negated by this new discovery. (c) 2023 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A recent report claiming the discovery of Dickinsonia at the Bhimbetka rock shelters has implications for paleogeography and the age of the Upper Vindhyan. However, after visiting the site in December 2022, the authors found evidence that negates this claim. The so-called fossil resembles decayed parts of modern honeybee hives.