Researchers find thousands of ancient turtle tracks on an Italian cliff

Geologists and researchers identified over 1,000 fossilized paddle-shaped tracks on a limestone cliff at mont Cònero in Italy.

The discovery began in 2019 when a group of climbers photographed strange markings on a steep rock face overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Paolo Sandroni, a geologist and climber, and his team later used drones and foot travel to survey the site. The team determined that the tracks were formed between 80 and 83 million years ago during the Upper Cretaceous period.

They believe the marks were made by sea turtles moving in a panicked group, possibly triggered by a prehistoric earthquake. Because fossilized tracks on seafloors rarely survive, the researchers suggest a seismic event quickly covered the prints with sediment, protecting them from erosion. Some scientists disagree with the biological origin of the marks. Anthony Romilio, a paleontologist at the University of Queensland in Australia, argues that the shapes do not match the expected rhythm or anatomy of sea turtle flippers.

He suggests the structures might be abiotic, meaning they were formed by natural geological processes rather than living creatures. Sandroni and his colleagues plan to work with specialists in ichnology, the study of trace fossils, to further analyze the site.