An ordinary hiking trip turned into a day of archaeological discovery for a couple who discovered prehistoric footprints from millions of years ago.
Claudia Steffensen was hiking in the Italian Alps with her husband last summer when she noticed what she described as “strange markings” on the rocks.
“Last summer it was very hot and I wanted to escape the heat so I went to the mountains,” Steffensen told the Guardian. “When descending, we had to walk very carefully along the path. My husband was in front of me and looking straight ahead, while I was looking at my feet. I put my foot on a rock and I noticed something strange about it.'' It looked like a cement slab and I noticed a strange circular design with wavy lines and it was a footprint. I realized that. ”
A couple was hiking in the Italian Alps when they discovered ancient footprints dating back millions of years. (St. Petersburg)
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Once she identified the marks as footprints, the discovery was passed on and further studied by numerous experts.
After discovering the footprints, Steffensen's first step was to send the photos to a friend who is a photographer who specializes in the natural world.
According to the Guardian, the photographer then contacted a paleontologist named Cristiano Dal Sasso from the Natural History Museum of Milan and consulted other experts in the field.
Steffensen discovered footprints that experts identified as belonging to a prehistoric reptile, as snow and ice melted before her.
The footprints found belonged to an animal that predates dinosaurs. (DeAgostini via Getty Images/DeAgostini via Getty Images)
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Experts have visited the area many times since the original footprints were discovered. Further exploration uncovered hundreds more fossil footprints of prehistoric reptiles, amphibians, and insects. The Guardian reports that fossilized remains of plants, seeds and raindrops have also been found in the area.
According to Smithsonian magazine, the fossilized footprints date back to the Permian period. This period was between 251 million and 299 million years ago, before the dinosaurs were born.
According to National Geographic, the period ended in “the worst extinction event in Earth's history,” with 90% of marine life and 70% of land animals extinct.
“Dinosaurs did not yet exist, but the creator of the largest footprints must still have been of considerable size, up to 2-3 meters long,” Dal Sasso said in a statement, according to the Guardian. It was,” he said.
The Natural History Museum displays a variety of artifacts from the area. (Eddie Buttarelli/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Steffensen expressed his gratitude for being part of the discovery of what is now called “Rock Zero.”
“I'm especially proud of the small contribution I've made to science,” Steffensen told the Guardian.
Research continues at this site, and certain artifacts have been taken to Milan's Natural History Museum for display.
