New Early Cretaceous fossil site in France

[bh480@scn.org]

From: Ben Creisler  bh480@scn.org
New Early Cretaceous fossil site in France

A January 19, 2002  story on the French wire services 
announced the discovery of an "exceptional site" near 
Cognac, France. It read in part:

"Nous avons decouvert des restes de plusieurs types de 
dinosaures, pterosaures, de crocodiles, tortues et de 
poissons qui vivaient il y a 130 a 135 millions d'annees 
dans une lagune situee en bord de mer", a affirme a l'AFP 
Jean-Michel Mazin, directeur de recherches a l'universite 
de Poitiers (ouest). "La grande richesse, la grande 
diversite, le tres bel etat de conservation des fossiles, 
la richesse des traces de vie qu'on y trouve en font un 
site paleontologique tout a fait exceptionnel", selon lui. 

My rough translation:
Jean Michel Mazin, director of research at the University 
of Poitiers, stated that: "We've discovered the remains of 
many types of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, crocodiles, turtles 
and fish that lived 130 to 135 million years ago in a 
lagoon located along the edge of the sea. The great wealth 
and variety of fossils, their excellent state of 
preservation, and the rich evidence of life found all make 
it a truly exceptional paleontological site."

Other comments in the article predict that site will 
become one of the most important fossil sites in Europe in 
the coming years and one of the largest paleontological 
digs in the world.