A Look At Langza Spiti's Fossil Village

The hamlet may not be home to many inhabitants, but fossils from 200 million years ago can be found in abundance

Situated at an altitude of 14,500 ft, Spiti's Langza Village paints a surreal image. The village includes diverse scapes, with barren cascading plains dotted with green pastures and snow-capped peaks. 

Like most villages in Spiti, Langza also finds itself divided between upper and lower parts. The latter is called Langza Yongma, and the former is Langza Gongma. It is scarcely populated, with only around 100 or a few more inhabitants occupying the white houses dotting the area. 

However, the village is known for much more than picturesque views and starry skies. More than 200 million years ago, Langza and the surrounding villages of Spiti were submerged under the ancient Tethys ocean. 

But 50 million years ago, the ocean disappeared when the Himalayan range and the Tibetan plateau rose due to the collision between Laurasia and Gondwana. All one can find of reality epochs ago are fossils of marine animals. 

Even if one does not possess archaeological knowledge or skills, one can dig up fossils from beneath the ground across Langza.