Ancient turtle fossils discovered in Egypt - in pictures

  • A team of Egyptian palaeontologists discovered 70 million years old turtle fossils in desert province of New Valley. All photos: New Valley Vertebrate Palaeontology Centre
    A team of Egyptian palaeontologists discovered 70 million years old turtle fossils in desert province of New Valley. All photos: New Valley Vertebrate Palaeontology Centre
  • The 50 turtle fossils date back to the upper Cretaceous period
    The 50 turtle fossils date back to the upper Cretaceous period
  • Egyptian palaeontologists with the turtle fossils
    Egyptian palaeontologists with the turtle fossils
  • They also discovered remains of herbivorous dinosaurs and crocodiles which lived in the area more than 70 million years ago
    They also discovered remains of herbivorous dinosaurs and crocodiles which lived in the area more than 70 million years ago
  • The species was named Khargachelys cairoensis, after the cities of Kharga, the largest in New Valley province, and Cairo
    The species was named Khargachelys cairoensis, after the cities of Kharga, the largest in New Valley province, and Cairo
  • The discovered turtle fossil
    The discovered turtle fossil
  • Palaeontologists working at the site
    Palaeontologists working at the site
  • New Valley is the country’s largest province by land mass at 440,000 square kilometres
    New Valley is the country’s largest province by land mass at 440,000 square kilometres
  • New Valley is made up of land formations dating back to the Cretaceous period that have remained the same for millions of years because of the area’s dry climate
    New Valley is made up of land formations dating back to the Cretaceous period that have remained the same for millions of years because of the area’s dry climate
  • Palaeontologists roam for days at a time in search of prehistoric remains
    Palaeontologists roam for days at a time in search of prehistoric remains
  • Palaeontologists excavate fossils
    Palaeontologists excavate fossils
  • Palaeontologists excavate fossils
    Palaeontologists excavate fossils
  • The palaeontologists from the universities of Cairo and New Valley hope to exhibit fossils in open-air museum in Western Desert
    The palaeontologists from the universities of Cairo and New Valley hope to exhibit fossils in open-air museum in Western Desert
  • Turtles were fossilised whole, a quality common among marine animal fossils
    Turtles were fossilised whole, a quality common among marine animal fossils
  • The unearthed turtle fossil
    The unearthed turtle fossil