A fascinating find just dropped in Denmark—a piece of fossilized vomit from the time of the dinosaurs! The Museum of East Zealand shared this exciting news on Monday.
The discovery was made by a local amateur fossil hunter, Peter Bennicke, while he was out for a stroll along the Cliffs of Stevns, a UNESCO World Heritage site just south of Copenhagen. As he explored the area, he stumbled upon some odd-looking fragments in a chunk of chalk, which turned out to be pieces of sea lily.
Curious about his discovery, Peter took the fragments to the museum for a closer look. Experts dated the vomit back to the late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago! It’s believed to contain bits from at least two types of sea lilies, likely consumed by a fish that couldn’t quite digest them.
The museum highlighted how significant this find is for piecing together ancient ecosystems. It gives us a glimpse into the prehistoric food chain, helping us understand which animals dined on what.
Paleontologist Jesper Milan described the discovery as “truly an unusual find,” emphasizing how it sheds light on the relationships among ancient creatures. He noted that sea lilies aren’t the most nutritious snack, mainly consisting of hard plates with only a few soft parts. Who knew fossilized vomit could be so enlightening?
Imagine this: 66 million years ago, there was a fish—probably something like a prehistoric version of our modern underwater friends—snacking on sea lilies that were hanging out on the ocean floor. And what did it do after? It regurgitated the leftover skeletal bits. Gross, right? But also kind of fascinating!
Now, if you ever find yourself near the Cliffs of Stevns, you’re in for a treat. UNESCO calls it a spot that showcases “exceptional evidence” of the Chicxulub meteorite crash, which is thought to have marked the dramatic end of the dinosaur era about 65 million years ago. Talk about a piece of history!
Researchers have been diving into the remnants of ancient meals for a while now. Just last November, scientists were sifting through fossilized poop and vomit from Poland, trying to piece together the food chain from 200 million years ago. How wild is that?
And let’s not forget what was uncovered back in 2018 in southeastern Utah—a stash of fossilized vomit! A study published in 2022 in the journal Palaios revealed that they’d found bits of salamanders and frogs in that ancient barf. It’s like a prehistoric version of a “what’s for dinner” mystery!