ROCKS THAT REMEMBER

A quiet ravine in Kashmir preserves the clearest record of the “Great Dying” earth’s most devastating extinction that took place 252 million years ago

- BY BADAR BASHIR/Srinagar

There was a time when there were no birds, no flowers and no grass on earth.

The skies were mostly empty, oxygen levels were unstable, the weather was harsh and the oceans were ruled by shell-like creatures.

This was the world 252 million years ago. On land, some animals looked like a mix of dog, bear and lizard, while others resembled widemouthed crocodiles. Moss-like corals floated near the sea floor.

Some of the evidence of this prehistoric era is preserved at the Guryul ravine at Khanmoh, 30 minutes drive from the crowded streets of Srinagar. For an ordinary traveller, there seems to be nothing here but rocks. But for geologists, these silent rocks contain clear evidence of a prehistoric world. Preserved within their layers is the record of a unique event known as the “Great Dying”. “It was earth's biggest catastrophe, which killed 95 per cent of marine life and more than 70 per cent of land species,” says geology researcher Shahrukh Mir. “The detailed secrets of that time can be understood from the Guryul ravine.”

Spread over one square kilometre, with an exposed rock section stretching 1.4 kilometres, the ravine offers a rare look into earth’s most dramatic biological and climatic collapse. The rocks are arranged like pages of a book, recording the breakdown of ecosystems. Each layer reflects a changing environment and shifting oceans.

On October 16, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the Guryul ravine a national geo-heritage site. This status highlights its global scientific value and provides legal protection. It formally recognises that the ravine is not just a local curiosity but a globally important reference site for understanding earth’s history. The site also has the potential to become India’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, joining an international network of sites preserved as natural scientific museums.