A piece of fossilized vomit from nearly 67 million years ago has been discovered in Denmark, according to a statement from the Museum of East Zealand. The find was made by an amateur fossil hunter on the Cliffs of Stevns, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near Copenhagen. During an exploratory walk, Peter Bennicke found fragments resembling sea lilies, which were later identified as such and dated back to the Cretaceous era using layers of chalk.
Experts believe the vomit may have been regurgitated by a fish that consumed sea lilies living in the ocean at the time. This discovery is significant for reconstructing past ecosystems and understanding the relationships within ancient food chains. Paleontologist Jesper Milan described it as “truly an unusual find,” highlighting its importance in explaining how dinosaurs coexisted with their predators during that time.
The site, also known for its connection to the Chicxulub meteor impact believed to have ended the dinosaurs, has been studied by researchers examining fossilized feces and vomit from the past. In 2018, similar finds were reported in southeastern Utah, and a study published in 2022 found remnants of salamanders and frogs in a vomit sample.
This latest discovery adds to our understanding of how ancient organisms interacted and highlights the unique insights fossils can provide into Earth’s history.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prehistoric-vomit-found-denmark