Argentine farmer Juan de Dios Sota has discovered four giant, armored glyptodon shells that had been buried underground for more than 10,000 years.

While working in his fields near Linquón de Valle , Argentine farmer Juan de Dios Sota accidentally discovered four 10,000-year-old fossils of a glyptodon , a giant herbivore similar to a modern armadillo that lived during the Ice Age (Pleistocene) .

Ancient armored animals: what are glyptodons?

Glyptodon was a mammal covered with thick bony armor , measuring over three meters in length and weighing up to two tons, and is thought to have protected itself from predators with its domed shell and spiny tail.

The latest discovery is noteworthy because four glyptodons were found in the same location , which is extremely unusual and suggests that the area may have been a mass gathering place for the creatures, or that they may have been buried simultaneously by a sudden natural disaster .

Burial due to sudden natural events

The team speculates that the glyptodonts were buried quickly, likely by floods, mudslides or climatic changes . This rapid burial allowed their skeletons and shells to be extremely well preserved , allowing them to survive to the present day.

“It’s like a time capsule, giving us a glimpse into what the Earth was like in the past,” said a paleontologist on the research team.

Contribution to science and local culture

This discovery is of great scientific and cultural importance, and experts will now study the fossils in detail to shed light on the ecology of Glyptodon, the cause of its extinction, and its adaptation to its environment .

Additionally, the discovery could bring new tourism and education opportunities to the region, boosting the local economy and interest in nature conservation.