Paleontological Site Chiniquá

Paleontological Site Chiniquá is a large excavation area in Rio Grande do Sul that stretches across substantial terrain along federal highway BR-287. The site preserves numerous fossils from the Middle Triassic period belonging to the Santa Maria Formation, revealing evidence of extinct land animals that roamed the region.

The site became known in the early 20th century through the work of German paleontologists who conducted the first major collecting expeditions. These early investigations established the area's scientific importance as a window into the distant geological past.

Local surveyor Vicentino Prestes de Almeida transformed into a dedicated paleontologist after interactions with German researchers at the Chiniquá site in 1925.

The site sits west of Santa Maria and is best reached by local transport since direct public connections are limited. Visitors should contact museums or local authorities beforehand to clarify exact access and visiting conditions.

A extinct animal found here was named after a local property owner, linking the site's scientific legacy to the family who owned the land. This type of naming is uncommon and connects the area's paleontological discoveries to its local human history.