Monte San Giorgio site fossils

Monte San Giorgio is a mountain straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy that holds layers of fossilized remains from ancient seas and shores. The peak displays limestone formations packed with preserved specimens from over 240 million years ago.

Scientific work at the site began in 1847 when paleontologists started documenting and collecting the first specimens found in the layers. Ongoing excavations revealed that these deposits held an entire vanished world from the Middle Triassic period.

The mountain draws researchers and visitors who come to see how ancient marine life evolved over time through the preserved remains visible here. These discoveries help people worldwide understand how life in the oceans changed millions of years ago.

A museum in Meride at the base of the mountain displays fossils and offers guided tours explaining the layers and discoveries. Visitors can also walk trails on the mountain itself to see where specimens were found and observe the exposed rock layers.

The limestone layers here contain over 20,000 specimens including marine reptiles, fish, and invertebrates that swam and lived in these ancient seas. This vast collection gives visitors a window into a vanished ocean world that thrived when this region lay underwater.