Scientists have uncovered an ancient shark "graveyard" in the middle of the Egyptian desert.
Fossilized teeth from seven shark species dating back millions of years were discovered in the Abu-Tartur Plateau — located in Egypt's Western Desert — between 2020 and 2022, offering new insight into the desert's watery past. The researchers detailed their discovery in a study published Aug. 18 in the journal Cretaceous Research
"This study provides evidence that the area now occupied by the plateau was once a sea with flourished marine life, with environmental conditions suitable for its development and prosperity, including favourable temperatures, sunlight, and appropriate oxygen levels," study first author Tarek Yassin, a paleontologist at Cairo University in Egypt, told Live Science in an email.
During the Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years a...
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