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Chile Seizes 200 Million-Year-Old Fossils From Madagascar
26 Sep
Summary
- Chilean customs officials intercepted over 200 ancient ammonite fossils.
- The fossils, dating back 110 million years, were hidden in a declared shipment.
- Authorities are working with Madagascar to determine the fossils' origin and repatriation.
Customs officials in Chile made a significant discovery, seizing over 200 ammonite fossils that had been shipped from Madagascar. The container was falsely declared as containing household ornaments, including chains and pendants. These ancient marine mollusks, closely related to modern cephalopods, are estimated to be around 110 million years old.
The fossils were found concealed within the cargo, wrapped in newspapers and magazines from Madagascar. Experts from the San Antonio Museum of Natural History confirmed the authenticity of the specimens. Chilean authorities have initiated contact with the government of Madagascar to ascertain the fossils' precise origin and explore the possibility of their formal repatriation.
