GRAHAMSTOWN - N2 CONSTRUCTION UNEARTHS FOSSILS OF UNDOCUMENTED PLANTS AND INVERTEBRATES

Construction work on the N2 highway near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape has unearthed the fossils of as yet undocumented species of plants and invertebrates.

According to News24, the discovery was made during controlled rock cutting explosions, and is significant because many of the species have never been documented by palaeontologists.

Confirming the discovery,  SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) environmental manager Mpati Makoa said on Wednesday: “A number of new invertebrates, as well as excellently preserved plant fossils of the Devonian era, have been excavated and discovered in rock debris of the Witpoort Formation along the N2 between Grahamstown and Fish River.”

During the Devonian era, which stretched from about 416 million years ago to 354 million years ago, Africa was part of Gondwana, one of two large land masses that comprised the continent of Euramerica. Together with Africa, South America, Antarctica, India and Australia made up Gondwana, while North America and Europe made up the second land mass.

The Devonian era is characterised by the spawning of many varieties of fish, so much so that it’s often called the “Age of Fishes”.

The fossilised remains are of life in a marine coastline environment in South Africa during the Devonian era.

Added Makoa: “To advance scientific discourse and original research contributions of South African palaeontology and heritage scholars, we made provision in the environmental management programme for specialist examination and excavation of rock debris.”

VIA - timeslive.co.za