The Outback, which spans the majority of Australia, contributes to the continent’s flatness and drier climate. However, many people are unaware that much of the Outback was originally an ocean floor, and it still contains the petrified remnants of the world’s oldest species.
The Ediacara biota, or ancient fossils, are now protected in the new Nilpena Ediacara National Park, which opened to the public on April 27. The park is already gaining popularity for its fossil beds, which visitors can see up close, as well as the continued work of Mary L. Droser, an American paleontologist who discovered one of Nilpena’s most famous fossil beds.
“The fossils are about 550 million years old, which is well over half a billion years old,” Droser stated in an interview. “With these beds, which basically are snapshots of the seafloor during that time (that is, fossils are preserved in place) — we have demonstrated the oldest animal sexual reproduction, the oldest macroscopic organism in the water column, the advent of mobility, and a number of other firsts.”
There have already been about 40 found fossil beds in Nilpena, and the effort is ongoing. The park offers a world-class fossil experience with guided tours, audio-visual recreations, and close-up views of the fossil beds.
Because of the international significance of the Nilpena discoveries and the ongoing work of Droser and her team, park visitors must schedule a guided tour to see the fossils. Ross Fargher, proprietor of the nearby Prairie Hotel, is now the only tour operator who can offer visits to the fossil site. This is essential since Fargher played a personal role in Nilpena’s timeline. He discovered multiple fossilized lifeforms in the 1980s, which supported the results of Reg Sprigg, an Australian geologist who discovered the world’s most prolific Ediacara biota in the 1940s.
Droser stated that while Ediacara biota have been discovered all over the world, the results in South Australia represent the best record of this suite of fossils, and Fargher’s findings are “significant because of the nature of preservation.” It has allowed us to dig fossil-rich sandstone strata. This is completely unique and has given us tremendous insight into the early history of animal life on Earth.”
Droser is working with a team to nominate the Flinders Ranges, including Nilpena Ediacara National Park, for World Heritage Site status.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park is located in the Australian state of South Australia, approximately six hours by road from Adelaide. The park is free to enter, but guided excursions must be arranged ahead of time and cost $160.