Fossil Sites Research Articles

The first Cyclida from the Triassic of Italy

A well-preserved carapace of the crustacean Halicyne is here described. The finding comes from the Sostegno Basin (Piedmont, Italy). This is the first occurrence of a well-preserved arthropod from the Middle Triassic San Salvatore Formation of the Biellese area and the first report of a Triassic Cyclida from Italy. Cyclida often occurs in shallow marine environments with rapidly changing salinity conditions. The finding from the Sostegno area suggests a hypersaline paleoenvironment similar to that of Monte San Salvatore (Ticino, Switzerland) upper levels, where the same taxon was previously documented. These fossiliferous localities are shortly compared with that of Rasa di Varese (Lombardy, Italy).

Mississippi, USA's local landscapes: geoheritage value and educational benefits within college palaeontology classrooms

Abstract In Mississippi, USA, exposures of fossiliferous Cretaceous and Paleogene strata contributed to geological investigations for more than 200 years. Since 2012, four Mississippi fossiliferous field sites were regularly integrated within university palaeontology classrooms, with community engaged learning (CEL) introduced in 2018. Through CEL projects, the students assisted local organizations with optimizing and/or protecting local fossiliferous sites. Analysis of student surveys demonstrated that students were overwhelmingly positive toward local field sites and CEL inclusion in the palaeontology courses. Students acknowledged ‘real-world’ interdisciplinary CEL experiences moved them beyond the palaeontology content and made them stakeholders in modern issues. While these four sites contain landscapes that qualify as local geoheritage sites because of their educational and potential geotourism value, only one site, W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park, is preserved for future generations. The other sites (Blue Springs, Osborn Prairie, Smith County) face challenges in their long-term sustainability.

Small mammal records from Limay river basin (Northwestern Patagonia) in the Anthropocene from a taphonomical and paleoecological perspective

The studies of the small mammal fossil and recent assemblages from the Limay river basin (Northwestern Patagonia) have strongly increased during the last decade. Taxonomic, taphonomic, and paleoecological information about small rodents and marsupials recovered from fossil sites offers the opportunity to discuss the periods of change and stability in the conformation of their communities through the Anthropocene. Here, we used two large data matrix of fossil and recent small mammal samples. As starting point, we considered the small mammal record of Epullán Grande cave (LL thereafter), which covers the Early Holocene/Post-hispanic Period, in order to assess the impact of anthropic activities on the small mammal communities during the Anthropocene. The taphonomic analysis performed on the newest samples from LL confirms the predatory activity of Tyto furcata on sigmodontines and human consumption on caviomorphs (mostly for the last ca. 1000 years). The analysis of manganese oxide staining suggested higher levels of moisture during the earliest formation of the LL sequence. The taxonomic results indicate a major diversity in the small mammal fossil assemblages to the later periods of LL and other fossil sequences of the Limay basin of the Anthropocene. Conversely, opportunistic sigmodontines ( Abrothrix olivacea, Calomys musculinus, Eligmodontia spp. and Oligoryzomys longicaudatus) experienced a growth in the recent samples. Some stenoic and specialist species ( Euneomys spp., Lestodelphys halli, Loxodontomys micropus and Reithrodon auritus) were abundant in the temporal units associated with the Anthropocene, but now are in retraction. Additionally, the drop in the diversity of recent assemblages supports a restructuration of small mammal communities from Limay river basin occurred in the 20th century.

The Occurrence of Suids in the Post-Olduvai to Pre-Jaramillo Pleistocene of Europe and Implications for Late Villafranchian Biochronology and Faunal Dynamics

It has been proposed that suids were absent from Europe during the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo Early Pleistocene (from less than 1.8 to more than 1.2 Ma) and that their “re-appearance” in the late Early Pleistocene would mark the end of the late Villafranchian and the beginning of the Epivillafranchian. Arguments enumerated in favor of this “suid gap” are the lack of suid remains from extensively sampled fossil localities of this age and the high reproductive potential (r-strategy) of suids, which would translate in a high commonness of their remains in the fossil record. However, here it shown that while suids’ reproductive potential is certainly exceptional within artiodactyls, there is no direct relationship between the reproductive strategy and preservation rate of a taxon in the fossil record. In Early Pleistocene localities of Europe and adjoining areas, where suids are present in a fossil assemblage, they are always rare. In terms of number of occurrences (frequency), suids range from being moderately common (~2.0–1.8 Ma) to moderately rare (~1.1–1.0 Ma). Suid material is also described herein from Peyrolles (Issoire, France; reference locality for MNQ 19), a site dated at 1.47 Ma, providing direct evidence for the presence of suids within the purported “suid gap”. The case of suids underlines an important source of caveat in inferring faunal dynamics of the late Early Pleistocene of western Europe—including the dispersal of hominins—i.e., the unequal geographical distribution of the paleontological sites of post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo age. Indeed, Peyrolles is the only large mammal site in western Europe located outside the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas reliably dated around 1.5 Ma. In the post-Olduvai to pre-Jaramillo period, there is a paucity of radiometric estimates (or they have too coarse a resolution) and of paleomagnetic excursions detectable in continental deposits. Basically, for this time span, there is a high dependence on biochronological correlations, although, at the same time, these correlations are less reliable—because these are based on a few sites not covering the entire spectrum of environments present in Europe and the sites are not independently dated with methods that outperform biochronology—than those for other periods.

Spatial standardization of taxon occurrence data—a call to action

AbstractThe fossil record is spatiotemporally heterogeneous: taxon occurrence data have patchy spatial distributions, and this patchiness varies through time. Large-scale quantitative paleobiology studies that fail to account for heterogeneous sampling coverage will generate uninformative inferences at best and confidently draw wrong conclusions at worst. Explicitly spatial methods of standardization are necessary for analyses of large-scale fossil datasets, because nonspatial sample standardization, such as diversity rarefaction, is insufficient to reduce the signal of varying spatial coverage through time or between environments and clades. Spatial standardization should control both geographic area and dispersion (spread) of fossil localities. In addition to standardizing the spatial distribution of data, other factors may be standardized, including environmental heterogeneity or the number of publications or field collecting units that report taxon occurrences. Using a case study of published global Paleobiology Database occurrences, we demonstrate strong signals of sampling; without spatial standardization, these sampling signatures could be misattributed to biological processes. We discuss practical issues of implementing spatial standardization via subsampling and present the new R package divvy to improve the accessibility of spatial analysis. The software provides three spatial subsampling approaches, as well as related tools to quantify spatial coverage. After reviewing the theory, practice, and history of equalizing spatial coverage between data comparison groups, we outline priority areas to improve related data collection, analysis, and reporting practices in paleobiology.

New fossil remains of Bovids from the Middle Siwaliks of Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT A detailed taxonomic study of fossil mammals from five different localities including Nagri, Padhri, Markhal, Dhok Pathan type locality and Hasnot, from the Miocene of Middle Siwalik, Punjab, Pakistan, has been conducted. Bovidae described here are represented by thirty-six specimens including horns core, isolated teeth, fragments of maxilla and mandibles. Thirteen specimens belong to Gazella lydekkeri, including one horn core which are described first time from the Padhri and Markhal localities. Additionally, ten specimens belong to Pachyportax latidens and three specimens belong to Selenoportax vexillarius. Quantitatively, the bovids were more distributed than other taxa, provide evidence of medium (Gazella) size bovids from the Middle Miocene mammalian fauna. The palaeoenvironment of Nagri Formation was most humid with extensive forest and grasslands, while Dhok Pathan Formation has fluvial deposits indicating a wetland environment with mosaic of marshes, forests and woodlands. The dominance of fossil specimens of family Bovidae suggests an extremely moist environment with small, abundant standing water bodies. Biogeographically, the Miocene mammalian fauna of the Middle Siwalik resembled to Eurasian and African Miocene fossil localities. The composition of fauna from our studied sites suggests Late Miocene age. The described fossil remains indicate that large-sized fauna was present here during the Miocene.

Species occurrences of Mio-Pliocene horses (Equidae) from Florida: sampling, ecology, or both?

AbstractDuring the late Miocene and early Pliocene (latest Hemphillian, Hh4 interval, 5.7 to 4.75 Ma) a distinctive suite of four species of extinct horses (Family Equidae) were widespread in North America. This includes Nannippus aztecus, Neohipparion eurystyle, Astrohippus stocki, and Dinohippus mexicanus. In Florida, two additional equid species, Pseudhipparion simpsoni and Cormohipparion emsliei, are also typically found at Hh4 localities. Here we compare horses from four Hh4 Florida fossil sites, including three from the Bone Valley mines and a fourth from the recently discovered Montbrook site. Two of these sites have all six expected species, one has five species, and one has only four species present. To explain these differences, we used species counts from research databases and rarefaction simulation to clarify the relative abundances, species richness, and occurrences of these horses from these four sites. The Palmetto Mine (Agrico) site, with five equid species, appears to lack the sixth species owing to ecological reasons. This is different from Montbrook, the site with only four of the six species. Results indicate that Montbrook is likely lacking two missing equid species for a couple of reasons: sampling bias and biological/ecological causes. Our results demonstrate that sampling biases can account for observed equid species richness when the overall abundance of certain equid species is low. Nevertheless, other factors, including ecology and with sufficient resolution, perhaps also time, may also explain the distribution and occurrences of individual species at these and other fossil sites. In a broader perspective, analyses such as this example provide an opportunity to address a persistent challenge in paleontology, that is, how do we explain absences of extinct taxa from the fossil record?

Checking in on fossil sites: Advancing monitoring protocols and techniques for paleontological localities in National Park Service units

Checking in on fossil sites: Advancing monitoring protocols and techniques for paleontological localities in National Park Service units

Combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance dating from the Pliocene fossil sites of Aves and Milo's palaeocaves, Bolt's Farm, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa.

Bolt's Farm is the name given to a series of non-hominin bearing fossil sites that have often been suggested to be some of the oldest Pliocene sites in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This article reports the results of the first combined Uranium-Series and Electron Spin Resonance (US-ESR) dating of bovid teeth at Milo's Cave and Aves Cave at Bolt's Farm. Both tooth enamel fragments and tooth enamel powder ages were presented for comparison. US-ESR, EU and LU models are calculated. Overall, the powder ages are consistent with previous uranium-lead and palaeomagnetic age estimates for the Aves Cave deposit, which suggest an age between ~3.15 and 2.61 Ma and provide the first ages for Milo's Cave dates to between ~3.1 and 2.7 Ma. The final ages were not overly dependent on the models used (US-ESR, LU or EU), which all overlap within error. These ages are all consistent with the biochronological age estimate (<3.4->2.6 Ma) based on the occurrence of Stage I Metridiochoerus andrewsi. Preliminary palaeomagnetic analysis from Milo's Cave indicates a reversal takes place at the site with predominantly intermediate directions, suggesting the deposit may date to the period between ~3.03 and 3.11 Ma within error of the ESR ages. This further suggests that there are no definitive examples of palaeocave deposits at Bolt's Farm older than 3.2 Ma. This research indicates that US-ESR dating has the potential to date fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind to over 3 Ma. However, bulk sample analysis for US-ESR dating is recommended for sites over 3 Ma.

Alces alces and Rangifer tarandus in the Pleistocene of Bulgaria (Artiodactyla: Cervidae)

An analysis of the past geographical and altitudinal distribution of bone remains of the elk (Alces alces) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Bulgaria is given. The data from seven fossil localities (Early–Late Pleistocene) from four provinces in the country are presented. The fossil record in Bulgaria shows the wide distribution of both deer species in the plain and hilly landscapes in the Danubian Plain in northern Bulgaria. No record of the two species has been known from Bulgaria south of the Stara Planina Mts. The localities of both species are spread over 250–750 m a. s. l., but majority of the findings are located at 335–390 m a. s. l. of the open steppe habitats. All data originate from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Paleolithic people.

Taphonomic study of the cave bears (Ursus cf. deningeri and U. spelaeus) from the Sima I of the El Polvorín cave (Northern Iberian Peninsula)

Cave bears used caves for hibernation and giving birth. Caves maintain stable conditions of temperature and humidity, which facilitates the preservation of fossil accumulations. Causes of mortality in caves are related to starvation during hibernation, which affects mainly juveniles and old adults, predation and accidents, affecting bears of all ages. The Iberian Peninsula is located in one of the extremes of the geographical range of this species and has yielded an abundant cave bear fossil record, particularly in karstic systems in the northern fringe. The origin of the accumulation of bear fossil sites in Iberia has been investigated mostly based on selected paleobiological variables (sex-ratio and age-at-death profiles) and qualitative taphonomic assessment. The objective of this paper is to delve into the origin of a bear accumulation with a large proportion of hyaena remains, the Sima I of El Polvorín cave (Biscay, Northern Iberian fringe, Spain). For that end a combination of quantitative paleobiological (age-at-death and sex) and taphonomic (bone fracture patterns and surface modifications) data is used. This analysis has ruled out humans and hyenas as the origin of the accumulation but, due to the limited number of fossil remains available it is not possible to ascertain whether the bear accumulation was the result of a natural trap within the cave, natural mortality during hibernation, or a combination of both causes. This study underscores the necessity of integrated methodological approaches and the potential of old paleontological collections to provide new important paleobiological and taphonomic information under these approaches.

Identification of Late Pleistocene and Holocene fossil lizards from Hall's Cave (Kerr County, Texas) and a primer on morphological variation in North American lizard skulls.

Fossil identification practices have a profound effect on our interpretation of the past because these identifications form the basis for downstream analyses. Therefore, well-supported fossil identifications are necessary for examining the impact of past environmental changes on populations and communities. Here we apply an apomorphic identification framework in a case study identifying fossil lizard remains from Hall's Cave, a late Quaternary fossil site located in Central Texas, USA. We present images and descriptions of a broad comparative sample of North American lizard cranial elements and compile new and previously reported apomorphic characters for identifying fossil lizards. Our fossil identifications from Hall's Cave resulted in a minimum of 11 lizard taxa, including five lizard taxa previously unknown from the site. Most of the identified fossil lizard taxa inhabit the area around Hall's Cave today, but we reinforce the presence of an extirpated species complex of horned lizard. A main goal of this work is to establish a procedure for making well-supported fossil lizard identifications across North America. The data from this study will assist researchers endeavoring to identify fossil lizards, increasing the potential for novel discoveries related to North American lizards and facilitating more holistic views of ancient faunal assemblages.

U–Pb zircon–rutile dating of the Llangynog Inlier, Wales: constraints on an Ediacaran shallow-marine fossil assemblage from East Avalonia

The Llangynog Inlier of south Wales contains an assemblage of Ediacaran macrofossils from a shallow-marine environment, including discoidal morphs of Aspidella and rare examples of Hiemalora , Palaeopascichnus and Yelovichnus . These are taxa found at other sites in the Avalonian microcontinent (e.g. Charnwood Forest and eastern Newfoundland) and in the younger White Sea Ediacaran assemblages. As the Charnwood fossils reflect a deep-water environment, and no macrofossils have been found in the Ediacaran rocks of the Long Mynd, the fossils of the Llangynog Inlier represent a unique glimpse of shallow-marine life in southern Britain (East Avalonia). However, the lack of absolute age constraints has hampered direct comparison with other assemblages. Here, we report in situ zircon and rutile U–Pb dates from a rhyolitic ash-flow layer of the Coed Cochion Volcaniclastic Member, Llangynog Inlier, which constrains the age of the fossiliferous strata. A weighted mean single grain zircon isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry U–Pb age of 564.09 ± 0.70 Ma is interpreted as the rhyolite's crystallization age. This age is consistent with in situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon and rutile U–Pb dating. The Llangynog age temporally correlates these fossils to dated horizons within East Avalonia at the Beacon Hill Formation, Charnwood (565.22 ± 0.89 Ma) and the Stretton Shale Formation, Long Mynd (566.6 ± 2.9 Ma). Correlations to West Avalonia include the time-equivalent Fermeuse Formation, St John's Group, eastern Newfoundland (564.13 ± 0.65 Ma). The data presented here establish the biota of the Llangynog Inlier as a lateral equivalent to the similarly shallow-marine, tidally influenced ecosystem of the upper Fermeuse Formation. Intra-terrane depositional environmental variability also affects what is preserved in Avalonian fossil sites. Further, time-constrained geochemical data reinforce the Llangynog Inlier's classification within the Wrekin Terrane. Supplementary material : U–Pb data, reference material and figures showing sedimentary structures are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6965642

Fossil weaver ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Oecophyllini) of the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of far-western North America

Abstract We examine the fossil weaver ants (Formicidae, Formicine, Oecophyllini) of the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil localities of British Columbia, Canada and Washington, United States of America, naming Eoecophylla quilchenensisn. gen. et sp. from Quilchena (British Columbia), formally transferring Camponotites kraussei Dlussky and Rasnitsyn (Republic, Washington) to the genus Oecophylla Smith, F., and describing but not naming a worker (McAbee, British Columbia), treated as Oecophyllinisp. A. These are the oldest known Oecophyllini (Oecophylla + Eoecophylla) and Oecophylla. Forewing vein stubs of E. quilchenensis and its well-developed hind wing vein M are plesiomorphies; this M is unique within the subfamily, suggesting Oecophyllini is sister to other Formicine. The head shape of O. kraussein. comb. indicates a close relationship to Oecophylla longiceps Dlussky from Eocene Messel, Germany. The ant Titanomyrma Archibald et al. is also known from the Okanagan Highlands and Messel, consistent with Late Cretaceous/early Paleogene intercontinental dispersal. We discuss possible host plants and trophobionts of these ants. Although Okanagan Highlands localities were cooler than the Paleotropical range of modern Oecophylla, their presence there might be explained by mild winters without significant frost.

A Study on Conservation Management Systems based on Deterioration Diagnosis of the Fossil Site: Tracksite of Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs in Sanbuk-dong, Gunsan, Korea

A Study on Conservation Management Systems based on Deterioration Diagnosis of the Fossil Site: Tracksite of Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs in Sanbuk-dong, Gunsan, Korea

Lithofacies and paleoenvironmental analysis of the Upper Cretaceous successions: Yagaan Khovil fossil locality, central Gobi region, Mongolia

The Upper Cretaceous successions are exposed at the Yagaan Khovil fossil locality in the central Gobi region, Mongolia. The successions comprise fluvial deposits that are divided into two units based on the lithological characteristics of the floodplain deposits. The lower unit (Unit 1) is characterized by eolian-influenced environments, whereas the upper unit (Unit 2) is composed predominantly of meandering river systems with lateral accretionary channel fill deposits that show concretion at the top of the bed. The shift in depositional processes from the lower to the upper unit can be hypothesized as the result of the change in the proximity of the eolian-affected area to the study area. The successions preserving the similar paleoenvironmental transition are also present in the Nemegt Basin, where the successions shift from reddish mud beds affected by eolian processes to meandering fluvial successions. Additionally, to the similar sedimentological features, similarities in vertebrate fossils between Yagaan Khovil and the formations in the Nemegt Basin imply the close relationship between the two areas in terms of environmental conditions, ages, and stratigraphic positions. To enhance the stratigraphic framework of the Upper Cretaceous strata in Mongolia, future work should integrate the findings of this study with new radiometric dating techniques.

A new enantiornithine specimen from the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas: avifaunal diversity and life-history of a wetland Mesozoic bird

The Lower Cretaceous fossil site of Las Hoyas (Cuenca, Spain) has yielded the richest Cretaceous avifauna of the European continent. We describe a new fossil (MUPA-LH-33333) of an enantiornithine bird from this locality. This specimen consists of a partially articulated skeleton preserving portions of the vertebral column, both girdles and limbs, ribs and sternum; it also preserves patches of soft tissues including remigial feathers and integumentary structures belonging to the postpatagium. MUPA-LH-33333 shares dimensions and some anatomical features with the holotype of Concornis lacustris, a species previously described from Las Hoyas. However, the new specimen shows differences especially in the coracoid and the sternum, suggesting the presence of a different morphotype closely related to C. lacustris. Nevertheless, the poor preservation prevents asserting that it represents a new species. Histological evidence from its long bones indicates that is subadult or adult and that early fast rates followed by slower and protracted cyclical phases took place during its growth, a previously unnoticed pattern in Lower Cretaceous enantiornithines. This new finding supports the hypothesis that enantiornithines regularly inhabited the Las Hoyas wetland, making this site a hotspot for enhancing our understanding of the evolution and life history of these Cretaceous birds.

Middle Ordovician trilobites from the Castillejo Formation, Eastern Iberian Range (NE Spain): taxonomic reappraisal, biostratigraphy, and correlation

Middle Ordovician trilobites found in 11 fossil localities from the areas of Alpartir, Aladrén, Luesma and Fombuena (Zaragoza province), and south of Calamocha (Teruel province) are studied. Most records come from the Alpartir Member of the Castillejo Formation, which is dated as Dobrotivian in age (late Darriwilian according to the global scale), with the only exception of two localities that are slightly older, from late Oretanian age (mid−late Darriwilian). In the overlying Sierra Member, three additional localities are recorded, which have estimated age ranges from late early to late Dobrotivian (latest Darriwilian, possibly reaching the Sandbian). A total of 21 different trilobite species were identified including Uralichas hispanicus, Parabarrandia crassa and “Panderia” beaumonti that are recorded for the first time in the Eastern Iberian Range. The main trilobite assemblage from the Alpartir Member belongs to the Placoparia tournemini Biozone, which correlates with numerous areas of southwestern Europe, and here occurs in a biofacies dominated by asaphids. The scarce data derived from the Sierra Member do not allow to distinguish biozones, although the incipient development of a trilobite biofacies adapted to sandy bottoms is recognized, which ends at the top of the Placoparia borni Biozone in the whole of southwestern Europe. The correlation of the trilobite assemblages with those of other formations represented in the Cantabrian, West Asturian-leonese and Central Iberian zones is also discussed, the latter probably related through the enigmatic Central Iberian Arc, a debated orocline of the Iberian Massif.

First megafossil occurrence of Cryosophileae (Arecaceae) in Asia: anatomy, systematics, and biogeography

ABSTRACT Cryosophileae, one of eight tribes within the palm subfamily Coryphoideae, is now restricted to tropical-subtropical areas of Central America with a few megafossil records in Europe and America. However, no megafossil of the tribe has been reported from Asia. Here, we describe Cryosophiloxylon indicum Kumar et Khan sp. nov. assigned to Cryosophileae based on permineralized palm stem from the latest Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) to earliest Danian (early Paleocene) sediments (c. 63–65 Ma old) of the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Cryosophiloxylon indicum is characterized by a Cocos-type general stem pattern, the presence of well-preserved vaginata fibrovascular bundles (fvbs) with 2–>4 elongated metaxylem vessel elements and one phloem strand, tabular parenchyma, fibrous bundles, uniform distribution of fibrous part of fvbs from the periphery towards the centre, and compact ground tissue with oval to elongated parenchymatous cells. The present finding represents the oldest reliable megafossil record of Cryosophileae from India supporting its Gondwanan occurrence and so is important for tracing its migration pathways from India to other continents (North and South America, Europe). The extinction of modern members of the tribe from fossil locality may be related to the intensification of the East Asian monsoon.

The palaeontological heritage of the Capo Vaticano – Monte Poro area (Vibo Valentia, Italy): research, protection, and management

The Late Miocene successions of the Capo Vaticano-Monte Poro (Southern Italy) area, well exposed at Cessaniti – Cava Gentile, preserve a palaeontological record particularly relevant for phylogenetic studies and paleogeographic reconstructions as well as for the popular scientific divulgation and museology. The rich record of Sirenians highly contributed to the knowledge of phylogeny and intraspecific variability of Metaxytherium serresii. The exclusive terrestrial mammal association, having African and Greco-Iranian affinities, allows intriguing suggestions in the paleogeography of the Central Mediterranean. New taphonomic analyses on invertebrates and vertebrates, here presented, suggest that the good fossil preservation is due to the rapid burial of skeletons in a semipermeable mixture of sandy/muddy sediments which were quickly cemented. Late partial dissolution of the carbonate cement among particles made the fossils easy to extract from the sediment. The collaboration among palaeontology researchers, fossil collectors, and local administrators, under the direction of Superintendence and the control of Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, allowed the recovery, study, and promotion of this precious paleontological record. The area has a good flow of tourists for the pleasant seaside, and fossiliferous sites could attract cultural tourism, through educational trails and a museum network which valorize the palaeontological and archaeological heritage of the hinterland.