In pictures: the fossils of Quercy, witnesses of a climate upheaval

In southwestern France, phosphatières contain thousands of exceptionally preserved fossils that reveal the story of the Grande Coupure, a significant climate cooling event 34 million years ago. This period led to the extinction of many species and the renewal of European fauna. The report, in partnership with CNRS Le Journal, highlights how fossilized bones from various animals, including bats and the chalicothere, document this biodiversity upheaval. The phosphatières in Lot hold fossils dating from 52 to 20 million years ago, marking a crucial time in biodiversity when many animal species vanished.