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100 Dinosaur Eggs Unearthed in France
3 Nov
Summary
- Nearly 100 dinosaur eggs, 70 million years old, found in southern France.
- Most eggs found had already hatched, offering clues to dinosaur nesting habits.
- Southern Europe was a prehistoric island during the Late Cretaceous period.
In southern France, near Mèze, paleontologists have unearthed approximately 100 dinosaur eggs that are about 70 million years old. This discovery is remarkable as it represents a far larger concentration of eggs than typically found in previously identified nesting sites. The fossil deposit spans roughly 50 square kilometers, indicating significant dinosaur activity during the Late Cretaceous period.
Studies suggest these eggs likely belong to titanosaurs, enormous herbivorous sauropods. However, identifying the exact species remains challenging due to the presence of other dinosaur fossils in the region, including rhabdodonts and dromaeosaurs. Approximately 95% of the unearthed eggs show signs of having hatched.
The geological context of the find reveals that southern Europe, including present-day southern France, was a substantial landmass called the Franco-Iberian Island during the Late Cretaceous. This prehistoric island likely served as a nesting ground for dinosaurs like titanosaurs, which may have periodically returned to lay eggs, much like modern turtles. Over millions of years, river sediments preserved these eggs, and subsequent geological events made them accessible for discovery.
