Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Castelo Branco > Idanha-a-Nova > Penha Garcia > Parque Icnológico de Penha Garcia
The Ichnofossils of Penha Garcia are located within the Ichnological Park, a natural area situated near the village of Penha Garcia, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova. The site is characterized by an impressive valley, shaped by the course of the Pônsul River, and is flanked by imposing rocky cliffs. The landscape is dominated by the presence of these vertical geological layers, which rise from the ground, revealing a natural scenery of great beauty and significance.
In these millennial rocks, it is possible to observe unique marks left by marine creatures that inhabited a shallow-water ocean approximately 480 million years ago. These traces are not the fossilized remains of the animals themselves, but rather their activity tracks, designated as ichnofossils. They represent, for example, the crawling and foraging of trilobites, ancient marine beings, that once traversed the bed of that primordial sea. Popularly known as “painted snakes,” these petrified signs tell a profound story about life in a period when the Earth's configuration was radically different from what we know today.
The Penha Garcia area is globally recognized for the remarkable quality and diversity of its ichnofossils. The quartzite layers, which once formed the ocean floor horizontally, were subjected to powerful geological forces over millions of years, leading to their uplift and vertical positioning. This extraordinary elevation allowed the traces of trilobites and other marine organisms to be exposed in an unusually clear and well-preserved manner. Paleontology specialists consider this site one of the most important in the world for observing these rare traces, given their clarity and abundance.
For those exploring the site, there is a path that invites careful observation of these impressive rock formations and ichnofossils. Walking through this geological landscape offers a unique perspective on the Earth's profound transformations and its chronology. The visit can be complemented by a stop at the Casa dos Fósseis (House of Fossils), a small on-site interpretation center, which enriches the understanding of the Paleozoic Era and the organisms that left their mark on the rocks of Penha Garcia.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.043957,-7.014543
Coordinates DMS: 40°02'38.2"N 07°00'52.4"W
Weather Penha Garcia
On-duty Pharmacy Penha Garcia
