Sandberg, Archaeological site in Devínska Nová Ves, Slovakia
Sandberg is a sandstone hill in Devinska Nova Ves, a district in the northwestern part of Bratislava. Its slopes expose layers of sedimentary rock filled with shark teeth, gastropod shells, and bones of marine animals.
Around 13 million years ago, this area lay under a shallow sea, and its sediments gradually solidified into the sandstone layers visible today. Over time, erosion cut through the hill and brought the fossil-bearing layers to the surface.
The hill draws fossil hunters and school groups who walk along the exposed rock faces and look closely at the layers. Shark teeth and shell fragments are visible in the walls without any special equipment.
The hill is reached by marked hiking trails from Devinska Nova Ves, with more than one starting point available. The slopes can be uneven and loose underfoot, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.
Seal bones and red algae deposits have been found here, pointing to a coastal environment rather than open sea. Finds like these are rare in Central Europe and make this hill an important site for researchers.
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