The fossil locality of Persac (Vienne, France): a unique window on a 100 million years old continental ecosystem
Abstract
Abundant and diverse fossil assemblages were recently collected from Albian-
Cenomanian (mid-Cretaceous) cross-stratified beds filling a Bajocian (Middle Jurassic)
paleokarst exposed near the town of Persac, Vienne, western France. They include wellpreserved
fossils of bivalves, gastropods, charophytes, plant leaves and wood, bony
fishes, lissamphibians, turtles, lizards, crocodyliforms, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and
mammals. During the last three years 12 m3 of sediments were screen-washed. More
than 200,000 micro-remains have already been sorted out, ranging from a few mm to a
10 cm in size.The fauna consists of both freshwater and terrestrial organisms. It
offers, thus, an inestimable milestone of scientific and patrimonial value for the
mid-Cretaceous European continental ecosystems.