Switzerland, a paradise for dinosaur hunters. Or is it?

Switzerland occupies a special place in the world of ichnology, the science that studies the fossilised remains of animals that have been extinct for millions of years. A book takes stock of the situation on the 50th anniversary of a major discovery in the Valais Alps. In 1976, French geologist Georges Bronner discovered fossilised traces on a rock face in the Vieux-Emosson area of the Valais Alps, near the border with France. The fact that this discovery took place that year was no coincidence. Bronner was involved in organising an exhibition on the region’s geology as part of the construction of the Emosson Dam, which was due to be inaugurated on October 1, 1976. In addition, 1976 was marked by an unprecedented drought. In the mountains, this "drought of the century" caused the snow cover to recede more sharply than usual, making it possible to see rocks that were usually covered in snow. In his book Un dinosaure dans la montagne (A dinosaur in the mountain), Pierre-Yves Frei ...