Storms that built a graveyard: Ancient monsoons created a spectacular dinosaur fossil site

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Around 80 million years ago, monsoon rains and tropical cyclones in northeastern Italy led to the extraordinary preservation of dinosaur fossils, crocodiles, plants, and river mud on a tidal flat. These ancient storms created a remarkable fossil site now studied for its paleontological significance.

Around 80 million years ago, a stretch of tropical coastline in what is now northeastern Italy was lashed by monsoon rains and tropical cyclones. Those storms swept dinosaur carcasses, crocodiles, plants and river mud onto a tidal flat, where the tides and a film of microbes sealed everything away with extraordinary preservation.