Thuringia Unearths a Sensational Discovery - Further Findings Expected
Thuringia to Continue Research and Support for Significant Evolution Discovery Site
Set within the Thuringian Forest, the Bromacker site holds a captivating allure, where time appears to stand still beneath the forest floor. This location, for those who delve into its depths, uncovers not just stone, but remnants of a long-extinct world - a world that thrived during the Earth's youth when life was just beginning its ascent onto land.
A major federal research project concludes this summer at the Bromacker site, yet Thuringia is primed to take up the mantle. The state guarantees approximately half a million euros in funding for research at the site by 2025. The Thuringian Government confirmed this support to the German Press Agency, expressing their commitment to not only scientific work but also the protection of the UNESCO Geopark Inselsberg-Drei Gleichen, whose World Heritage status intertwines closely with the research. Environment Minister Tilo Kummer (BSW) asserted, "We bear responsibility here in Thuringia for a unique site." The state also seeks further collaboration with the federal government to secure the research for the long term.
The Bromacker site is Europe's most important excavation site for early ancestors of dinosaurs, known as the first land vertebrates. An international team of paleontologists, geologists, and preparators has been working on-site since 2020. Each year, they unearth fossils dating back to the Perm period, contributing to over 1,500 significant findings, including fresh insights into newly discovered animal and plant species.
These fossils shed light on ancient ecosystems and offer valuable insights into the development of early land vertebrates. The research to date has been funded by a five-year federal project totaling around six million euros. Contributors to this project include the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the Friedenstein Foundation Gotha, the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, and the UNESCO Global Geopark Thuringia Inselsberg - Drei Gleichen.
Moreover, the public can engage with science at the Bromacker site as well. Visitors can explore an interactive experiment field at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha and even watch researchers in action at the excavation site itself. The upcoming summer excavation will take place from June 3 to 20, 2025. (dpa/emi)
An ongoing project, the BROMACKER, spearheads the research at the site. Tracing its roots to the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (formerly BMBF), the BROMACKER project seeks to continue fueling discoveries about early evolution and preserve this precious site for future generations. Future funding strategies are likely to emphasize: continued exploration, advanced technologies, collaborative research, and conservation efforts. This unique site represents a treasure trove of knowledge about the Earth's earliest inhabitants, aiming to unlock further secrets that lie buried beneath the forest floor.
- As Thuringia takes over the research funding, the BROMACKER project, rooted in the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, will continue to delve into the field of environmental science, focusing on the ancient ecosystems and early evolution of land vertebrates, ensuring the site remains a valuable learning resource for the future generations.
- To supplement the ongoing research, education and self-development opportunities are being offered at the Bromacker site, such as the interactive experiment field at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha, allowing both researchers and the public to learn about and contribute to advancements in environmental-science and the understanding of early life forms on land.
