280 Million-Year-Old Fossil Exposed as Partial Forgery

A new study reveals that the celebrated Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil, thought to contain rare carbonized soft tissue, is largely fabricated with black paint.

A recent study has debunked the authenticity of the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil, revealing it to be partially forged with black paint.
The fossil, discovered in 1931 and believed to be one of the best preserved from the Alps, was thought to show carbonized soft tissue.
Advanced analytical techniques, including UV photography and chemical analysis, were used to determine the forgery.
While the long bones of the hind limbs appear genuine, the rest of the fossil was found to be artificially enhanced.
The discovery underscores the importance of modern paleontological methods in identifying fossil forgeries and the need for ethical conservation practices.