Alcoota, Paleontological site in Central Desert Region, Australia
Alcoota is a paleontological site in the Central Desert with a dense bone bed located around 200 kilometers northeast of Alice Springs. The protected area spans 48 hectares and holds countless fossilized bones and teeth from animals that went extinct millions of years ago, studied by researchers on site.
Scientists began studying the site in 1962, with systematic excavations starting in 1984 led by the local museum institution. This long-term research effort has revealed important details about the animals that lived in this region long ago.
The site reveals the remains of animals that once roamed ancient Australia, including a large flightless bird and an extinct marsupial predator. These fossils help people understand what lived on the continent millions of years ago and how life has changed over time.
The area is fenced and has a field station to protect the fossils and support research activities. Visitors should be aware that this is an active research location, so access and viewing times may be restricted.
The fossils here are packed so densely together that scientists must carefully extract each piece without damaging surrounding bones. This extraordinary concentration makes the site one of the richest bone beds of its kind in the world.
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