Paleontologists have discovered more than a hundred ancient fossils in Brazil, on a site that was “lost” for more than 70 years.

The fossils are estimated to be around 260m years old, predating the first dinosaurs. They were in an ideal environment for preservation and were protected in thin layers of rock, according to the fossil record.

These fossils were recovered in a location known as “Cerro Chato”, which was discovered in 1951 by researchers who carried out geological mapping in the area.

Fossils were collected and described during this time, but a technology at the time did not allow the exact geographic referencing of the site, so the location was lost until 2019.

“For decades, the geographic location of this outcrop was unknown,” researcher Joseline Manfroi said. “It was sought as a true ‘treasure hunt’ and, fortunately, after so long, we will have the opportunity to continue writing this history, through the fossil record.”

The site is being researched by a team led by Joseane Salau Ferraz, a masters student at the Federal University of Pampa.

The researchers have discovered more than 100 specimens of plant fossils, including groups that belong to the ancestors of today’s conifers and ferns. The team has also discovered animal fossils such as fish and molluscs.

Salau Ferraz estimates that the team has explored less than 30pc of the area, giving hope of further discoveries. She noted that the early expeditions were unable to explore the site too deeply due to the thick limestone in the area.

“If it’s difficult to work in a place like this today, even with technology, imagine the challenges that it represented in 1951,” Salau Ferraz said.

The team said the fossils date to the end of the Permian period, which is marked by the most severe mass extinction known over geologic time when more than 90pc of life on Earth was decimated due to intense weather disturbances.

“These studies will help us to retrieve information about the distribution of these plants around the world, as well as collecting evidence on what the climate was like at the time,” Salau Ferraz said. “This new location will attract many eyes to our state.”

The site was rediscovered with the participation of researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the University of Vale do Taquari and the Federal University of Pampa. The current research team has been funded to continue the excavations with a three-year projection for field activities.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

The post 260m year-old fossils discovered in a lost excavation site in Brazil appeared first on Silicon Republic.