A significant number of prehistoric fossils dating back approximately 500 million years have been discovered at a construction site for a highway project in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Photo: Xinhua News Agency

A significant number of prehistoric fossils dating back approximately 500 million years have been discovered at a construction site for a highway project in Southwest China's Yunnan Province,Global Times learnt from a paleontologist on Wednesday.

The discovery site is located at the construction site of an expressway service area in the Malong district, Qujing City, Yunnan Province. To safeguard the discovery, construction activities in the fossil-rich area were promptly halted, and efforts to collect and study the fossils were initiated in collaboration with relevant authorities, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

According to experts, the fossils found include ones of Malungia laevigata, Isoxys, Naraoia and Hyoliths. A preliminary investigation suggests that the geological age of the strata here is slightly later than the Cambrian Biota in Chengjiang county, Yunnan Province's Yuxi city, which dates back approximately 500 million years.

Liu Yu, a research fellow at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that based on initial finds, these fossils hold significant scientific value. The geological age is close to the Cambrian biota in Chengjiang county, and trilobites, Naraoia, and other arthropods with hard shells make up the majority of the discovery. Most fossils have well-preserved external exoskeletons.

While most fossils have well-preserved external exoskeletons, those with soft structures such as eyes, intestines, and limbs are relatively rare.

An on-site construction worker told Xinhua that initially they didn't notice anything unusual about the excavated rocks until a local fossil enthusiast ran over and pointed out the fossils within, revealing that they were not ordinary stones.

Leng Tao, a project manager on the expressway project, told Xinhua that construction in the fossil discovery area was suspended at the end of November, and temporary protective facilities were set up. 

"Although it has had some impact on out construction progress, preserving these paleontological fossils is meaningful," he added.

After preliminary assessments by multiple experts, the fossils were deemed valuable both in terms of scientific research and aesthetics, especially considering the representative nature of ancient animal groups. As the collection progresses, there is a possibility of additional discoveries, the experts noted.