Rare and fragile fossils found at a secret site in Australia's 'dead heart'

Scientists have discovered a treasure trove of ancient fossils in a secret location somewhere in New South Wales dating back 16 million to 11 million years ago.

Spider and a feather.

By examining the well-preserved fossils with scanning electron microscopes (SEM), the study authors were able to image details as fine as individual cells and subcellular structures. Some of the images even revealed animals' last meals, such as fish, larvae and a partially digested dragonfly wing preserved inside fishes' bellies. In other fossilized scenes, a freshwater mussel clung to a fish's fin, and pollen grains were stuck to insects' bodies.

And it seems there's plenty more to come.

The fossil-bearing rock layer measures between 11,000 and 22,000 square feet (1,000 and 2,000 square meters), and paleontologists have thus far excavated just over 500 square feet (50 square m), according to McCurry.

Preserved soft tissues in the feather and in the fishes' eyes and skin held another exciting detail: pigment-storing cell structures called melanosomes. Though the color itself isn't preserved, scientists can compare the shape, size and stacking patterns in the fossil melanosomes to those in modern animals. In doing so, paleontologists can often reconstruct the colors and patterns in extinct species, study co-author Michael Frese, an associate professor of science at the University of Canberra in Australia, said in a statement.
www.livescience.com...

And all that time later they end up on the internet.

why the Lost Civilizations forum?

I think Fragile Earth or some other science forum would be better?

a reply to: ElGoobero

I'd say 16 million to 11 million years ago is pretty ancient.

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: ElGoobero

I'd say 16 million to 11 million years ago is pretty ancient.

My arachnophobia tells me that's not long enough to be sure the spider one is really dead!

The rest of me thinks it's a remarkably well preserved example.

Nice find..... (I think?)

a reply to: gortex

Can someone explain how soft tissues can last that long? I’ve always wondered that.

originally posted by: LetTheColdCome
a reply to: gortex

Can someone explain how soft tissues can last that long? I’ve always wondered that.

I think we are seeing the fossilised imprints of the soft tissue, last meals etc , no actual soft tissue remains. If it did we can start up the Jurassic park theme parks soon, which would be cool.

a reply to: gortex

Rare fossil found in Australia.

Of course it's a frigging spider.

originally posted by: Tulpa

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: ElGoobero

I'd say 16 million to 11 million years ago is pretty ancient.

My arachnophobia tells me that's not long enough to be sure the spider one is really dead!

The rest of me thinks it's a remarkably well preserved example.

Nice find..... (I think?)

Australia.

Where even the fossils are out to kill you.

originally posted by: Wide-Eyes
a reply to: gortex

Rare fossil found in Australia.

Of course it's a frigging spider.

Australia is the home of massive, nasty spiders, so it makes sense they would have massive spider fossils too.

originally posted by: Wide-Eyes
a reply to: gortex

Rare fossil found in Australia.

Of course it's a frigging spider.

Lol, true!

Not my favourite creature, especially a prehistoric one...

SPAM

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: ElGoobero

I'd say 16 million to 11 million years ago is pretty ancient.

But not "Civilizations"
Good thread anywhere it is .

originally posted by: Wide-Eyes
a reply to: gortex

Rare fossil found in Australia.

Of course it's a frigging spider.

Ha! This is what I thought too. Cool find though. My son will love this, he loves Australia and spiders.

a reply to: gortex

But why is the site secret?

a reply to: Gothmog

But not "Civilizations"

Problem is there's no obvious home for archaeological discoveries here not associated with the Human species , as this forum is Ancient & Lost Civilizations instead of Ancient Lost Civilizations I guess this is the place for it due to the fossils being ancient.

Good thread anywhere it is .

Thanks.

a reply to: Direne

But why is the site secret?

To protect it from fossil hunters.

a reply to: gortex

Makes sense. Then all the archeological sites are secret sites in Australia. I thought archaeological and paleontological heritage belongs to the Government. I guess the law is different in each country.

Anyway, an interesting finding indeed.

a reply to: Direne

I think it depends on the site's importance , the site of the Staffordshire Hoard found not far from where I live was kept secret until excavations were completed to stop treasure hunters plundering it due to the amount of gold found there.
en.wikipedia.org...

Ancient fossils are very collectible and can fetch good money on the open market so it's understandable they'd want to keep such a large site under wraps.

Good grief! Here we are looking at a really cool fossil of a spider that looks like it could get up and walk off even today, and all we can do is argue over where on the forum the whole thread ought to be?

Look at that spider! That's just so well preserved.

The middle of Australia used to be a huge inland sea and now dried out.