CHANDIGARH,INDIA, January 25, 2016 (Press Information Bureau): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and President Mr. Francois Hollande paid a joint visit to the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh, as part of their engagements during the State Visit of President Hollande to India on 24 January 2016.The two viewed the displays of archaeological findings from the foothills of the Himalayas which suggest human activity dating back to 2.6 millions years ago, making them among the oldest known remnants of human existence. This significant discovery is the result of seven years of extensive research and collaboration between the Prehistory Department of the National Museum of Natural History of France and the Society of Archaeological and Anthropological Research of Chandigarh.
The archaeological discovery comprises about 1,500 fossil finds, including 200 quartzite tools collected from several locations spread over 50 acres of area in Masol region near Chandigarh. The Prime Minister and President Hollande congratulated the Indo-French team for their joint research work leading to this discovery.