Paleontological Sites of Santa Maria, Protected paleontological area in Santa Maria, Brazil

The paleontological sites of Santa Maria comprise multiple fossil locations spread across the region. These sites contain remains from the Triassic period and are accessible today at approximately twenty documented areas.

The first fossil discoveries in Santa Maria were recorded in 1901, leading to systematic excavations throughout the region. These scientific efforts made it possible to identify and preserve remains of animals from the Triassic era.

The Museu Vicente Pallotti and the Museu Educacional Gama D'Eça hold fossils from the Santa Maria and Caturrita formations. The second is also known as the Geopark Paleorrota museum, a name tied to the palaeontological park created after the 1901 finds.

The sites are located in different areas and are reachable via local roads. Visitors should allow time to explore multiple locations and use local guides or information to properly locate the sites.

A site called Sanga da Alemoa stands out for exceptionally well-preserved fossils, including complete skeletons of vertebrates. This location shows how different preservation conditions can be across the various sites in the region.