Hiker stumbles upon 280-million-year-old world in melting Italian Alps

A hiker’s keen eye in the Italian Alps has led to the discovery of a 280-million-year-old fossilized ecosystem. The site contains hundreds of footprints belonging to reptiles, amphibians, and insects, offering a rare glimpse into life before the dinosaurs. The discovery, dating back to the Permian period, includes fossilized plants, seeds, and even raindrop imprints.