Lost world with a 280-million-year-old ecosystem discovered by hiker
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Claudia Steffensen and her husband were hiking along a trail in the Valtellina Orobie Mountains Park in Lombardy in 2023 when she noticed a light gray rock bearing 'strange designs.'
Upon closer inspection, she came to the realization that the patterns were actually prints of various animals.
During the Permian era, the period just preceding the time of dinosaurs.
Further research in the area revealed numerous fossilized footprints belonging to at least five different species of prehistoric reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
It's estimated that some of these early animals were quite large, likely ranging from six to 12 feet in length, according to researchers in a recent announcement.
The team also uncovered ancient markings - including impressions of seeds, leaves, and stems - alongside impressions of raindrops and waves on the shores of a prehistoric lake.
The prints were preserved in detailed and impressive manner, even featuring the impressions of fingernails and the belly skin of certain animals.
The researchers attributed excellent preservation of these fossils to their former closeness to water.
This ancient ecosystem, dating back to high altitudes of up to 10,000 feet and lowlying valleys, has been preserved in intricately detailed sandstone formations.
Paleontologists have also identified claw marks and patterns on the undersides of various animals.
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The summer sun hardened the dry surfaces so much that when new water returned, it didn't erase the footprints, but instead covered them with new clay, creating a protective layer.
The Permian period extended from 299 million years ago to 252 million years ago.
During this time, the global climate underwent a rapid warming, ultimately leading to a catastrophic mass-extinction event that marked the end of this era and eliminated a staggering 90 percent of Earth's species.
It is ironic that modern climate change has made the discovery of this ancient alpine ecosystem possible, as the fossils were buried beneath layers of snow that have begun to melt due to a warmer Earth.
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The remarkable aspect was the altitude - these artifacts were discovered at extremely high elevations and were exceptionally well-preserved. This is an area prone to landslides, which led to rock formations that unveiled these fossils.
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The find of these fossils provides a glimpse into an ancient ecosystem devastated by an extreme global temperature increase. In a similar manner, it also serves as a reminder of the consequences that human-induced warming may lead to as it approaches catastrophic levels.
"These fossils … indicate a distant geological era, but they share the same global warming pattern as we experience today," the researchers said.
The past offers valuable lessons about the potential dangers we risk creating in the present.
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