Rock Climbers In Italy Stumble Across 80-Million-Year-Old Fossils

Scientists say they have evidence of sea turtles trying to escape an earthquake on the rock face overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Rock climbers by chance discovered patterns of what looked like the Cretaceous sea turtle pressing its paddles into the seafloor. They consulted with expert geologists who were able to climb to the area to collect rock samples and take recordings of the area using a drone.

The findings were published in the journal Cretaceous Research.

Underwater Avalanche

What was once a deep seabed is not part of a mountain, changed by tectonic forces millions of years ago. Scientists believe the sea turtles lived about 80 million years ago and indicate the limestone was part of an underwater avalanche, according to reporting in Live Science.

Typically, any evidence of animals would be washed away by sea currents, but if an earthquake occurred, it would preserve the tracks made by the sea turtles.

Further research from fossil experts will provide more information as additional data is collected from the site.