Ancient Whale Graveyard Yields 80 Fossils

Seven-million-year-old whales, sharks, dolphins and seals form what's believed to be the biggest find of this kind ever.

A veritable whale graveyard has been discovered in Chile as paleontologists discovered as many as 80 fossils at a site that had been scheduled to be paved over for a new highway. Many of fossils are complete skeletons, and the remains date back to seven million years ago. One find included a mother, father, and baby whale all lying next to one another. There were also some dolphin, shark, and seal remains found alongside the massive mammals, which were discovered near the city of Caldera in the northern part of Chile. It's the biggest find of its kind ever, and it has also led to the classification of new whale species that would have been predecessors of the aquatic mammals we know and love and occasionally hunt today. So instead of the highway that had been planned, local officials now say they'll build a museum for the fossils instead.