This year, the Mystery of the Faluns celebrates its 10th anniversary!
The “Mystery of the Faluns” refers to a remarkable geological phenomenon and archaeological site in France. The “faluns” are a type of sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate and formed from the accumulation of marine fossils, primarily shells and skeletal remains of marine animals, over millions of years.
The most famous site associated with the Mystery of the Faluns is located in the Loire Valley region of France, particularly around the towns of Saumur and Doué-la-Fontaine. Here, the faluns contain an extraordinary abundance of fossils dating back to the Miocene epoch, approximately 10 to 20 million years ago.