A fascinating fossilized ecosystem was recently discovered in the Orobie Valtellinesi Park, in the province of Sondrio. This extraordinary site, brought to light by the melting of snow and ice, preserves traces of life dating back 280 million years. The evidence collected includes footprints of amphibians and reptiles, plants, seeds and even raindrops, offering a unique glimpse of life in the past. The recovery operation of the fossilized finds, which took place at 3,000 meters above sea level, was supported by a helicopter and led to the presentation of the first samples at the Natural History Museum of Milan.
The site was discovered by chance by hiker Claudia Steffensen from Lovero. Her discovery was documented by nature photographer Elio Della Ferrera. Studies were conducted by experts in the field: paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso of the Natural History Museum of Milan, geologist Ausonio Ronchi of the University of Pavia, and ichnologist Lorenzo Marchetti of the Natural History Museum of Berlin. Initial analysis revealed tracks of tetrapods (reptiles and amphibians) and invertebrates (insects, arthropods), many of which were arranged in such a way as to form ‘tracks’. These marks date back to the Permian, the last period of the Paleozoic Era, a time when dinosaurs were not yet present.
“The largest footprints found here belonged to creatures that could reach considerable dimensions: up to 2-3 meters in length,” Dal Sasso said. Furthermore, the site features trace fossils belonging to at least five different ichnospecies, providing opportunities for detailed paleoecological reconstructions.
Ronchi explains that the footprints were created in a fluvial context: “These sandstones and shales were water-soaked sands and muds at the edges of rivers and lakes.” During dry seasons, the summer sun hardened the surface, allowing the footprints to be preserved under protective layers of clay. Marchetti adds that the fineness of the now petrified sediments has allowed for extraordinary preservation of details: “The imprints of the fingertips and the skin of the belly are clearly visible.” This discovery suggests a remarkable paleo-biodiversity, probably superior to that observed in other geologically similar deposits in the region.
This discovery not only enriches our understanding of terrestrial life in the remote past, but also offers new opportunities for paleoecological studies. The importance of the fossil site in the Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi translates into increased potential for in-depth research on ancient biodiversity and ecosystem evolution. As scientific research advances, it is expected that further discoveries will emerge that could revolutionize our understanding of the history of life on Earth.
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