Hikers discover mysterious tracks in the Alps: scientific surprise 👀

A hike in the Italian Alps took an unexpected turn.

On a rocky ground, a couple of hikers discovered regular shapes in a sandstone slab. Their photo caught the attention of scientists. After analysis, experts identified tracks left by a prehistoric reptile, long before the appearance of dinosaurs. At an altitude of 5,577 feet (1,700 meters), these fossilized prints reveal a distant past dating back 280 million years.


These footprints, from the Permian period, originate from a landscape radically different from today's Alps. At that time, the continents formed Pangaea, a single supercontinent. The mountains did not exist yet.

Excavations carried out in the Ambria Valley reveal exceptional fossil biodiversity: tracks left by tetrapods, amphibians, and various invertebrates. Some of the tracks, rich in detail, show species reaching up to ten feet (three meters) in length. Fossilization conditions attest to a complex ecosystem. Intermittent rivers and lakes, alternating between floods and droughts, preserved these prints under layers of sediment. The sun and clay hardened the surfaces before they were covered.

According to researchers, this exceptional preservation allows us to study not only the species but also their environment. The tracks even reveal details such as skin or claw prints.

Climate change has played a key role in this discovery. The melting of glaciers and permanent snow has exposed these relics. This phenomenon has been responsible for numerous similar discoveries in the Alps.


The fossils discovered are now on display at the Natural History Museum of Milan. They illustrate a rare moment in the history of life on Earth. Research continues to reveal more. These tracks are a reminder of the vastness of geological time and the fragility of our fossil archives. A simple hike uncovered an entire vanished ecosystem, etched in stone.

What is the Permian period?

The Permian period, which extends from approximately 299 million to 251 million years ago, is the last era of the Paleozoic era. It predates the appearance of the dinosaurs and marks major transformations in Earth's history.

During the Permian, the continents were united into a single superstructure called Pangaea, surrounded by a vast ocean, Panthalassa. This geographical configuration influenced climates and ecosystems, fostering arid environments in the central regions of the supercontinent.

Life on land during this period was dominated by primitive reptiles, amphibians, and vegetation primarily consisting of conifers, ferns, and plants adapted to dry climates. The Permian ended with a massive extinction, the most significant in history, which eliminated about 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species.

How do fossilized footprints form?

Fossilized footprints form when organisms walk on soft surfaces like mud or sand. These substrates must possess a certain level of moisture to preserve the details of the tracks.

Over time, these footprints are covered with sediments like clay or silt, which protect their structure. Geological processes then transform the sedimentary layers into rock, fossilizing the footprints.

Specific conditions, such as rapid drying or the absence of erosion, are necessary to preserve these prints for millions of years. Details such as claws or skin texture are sometimes preserved, offering an exceptional window into the past.