A hiking trip took an unexpected turn for a couple in the Italian Alps when they stumbled upon ancient footprints believed to be millions of years old.
Last summer, Claudia Steffensen and her husband sought refuge from the heat in the cool mountain air. While carefully making their way down the trail, Claudia spotted what she initially thought were unusual markings on a rock. “It was a very hot day, so we decided to go to the mountains,” she recounted. “I was looking down at where I was stepping when I noticed what looked like strange circular designs. When I looked closer, I realized they were footprints.”
After recognizing the significance of her find, she shared a photo with a friend who is a nature photographer. He then got in touch with Cristiano Dal Sasso, a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History in Milan. Following a thorough examination, experts determined that the footprints were made by a prehistoric reptile, revealed by melting snow and ice.
Experts have since visited the site multiple times and discovered hundreds more fossilized footprints from various prehistoric reptiles, amphibians, and even insects. They also found fossilized plants, seeds, and raindrop imprints. According to Smithsonian Magazine, these footprints date back to the Permian period, which occurred between 251 and 299 million years ago, long before dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Remarkably, this period ended with a massive extinction event, wiping out around 90% of marine species and 70% of land animals. “Though dinosaurs were not around yet, the creatures that left these footprints were likely quite large, measuring up to 2-3 meters long,” Dal Sasso explained.
Claudia expressed her pride in having contributed to this scientific discovery, now referred to as “Rock Zero.” She stated, “I’m feeling very proud, especially to have made a small contribution to science.”
Research at the site continues, with various finds now being exhibited at the Natural History Museum in Milan.
