Parc naturel régional du Luberon » Fossil foootprints

Sites yielding fossil mammal footprints are rare on a global scale. However, the Luberon region features several examples, including sites in Saignon, Viens, and Manosque. The site of Viens displays nearly 200 depressions corresponding to mammal footprints over an area of approximately 400 square meters. It is part of the Luberon Geological Nature Reserve.

Location : Viens
Site type : formation géologique remarquable

empreinte_2_doigts_c_pnrl_stephane_legal
empreinte_3_doigts_c_pnrl_stephane_legal
dessin_dalle_viens_c_aline_laage
piste_dalle_viens_c_stephane_legal
Viens fossil tracks information panel
© PNRL - Stéphane Legal
vue_dalle_viens_c_pnrl_stephane_legal

The Site

The site, discovered in 1968 by hikers, consists of two slabs from the same geological layer, separated by a trail (GR6-GR97). The smaller slab, located above the path, is about 20 square meters, while the larger one measures approximately 400 square meters. Composed of limestone, this layer is inclined about 15° to the south, with small faults oriented northeast/southwest scattered across its surface. This limestone is of lacustrine-lagoonal origin and dates back approximately 30 million years (La Fayette Limestone Formation, Oligocene, Cenozoic).

The Footprints

The limestone layer features numerous depressions (nearly 300) corresponding to mammal footprints. Some are arranged in tracks, allowing the tracing of the movements of now-extinct animals.

Three-Toed Footprints

The perissodactyl trackways are referred to as Rhinoceripeda voconcense. These footprints are attributed to a Ronzotherium (a group of rhinoceroses). Notably, a fragment of a Ronzotherium jawbone was found in the clay quarry at Viens.

Two-Toed Footprints

About a hundred two-toed footprints (artiodactyls), identified as Megapecoripeda velox, have been highlighted. These footprints are attributed to Entelodonts, ungulates that appeared in Europe at the begigning of the Oligocene.

Other smaller footprints are attributed to small chevrotains (e.g., Gelocus, Lophiomerix, Bachitherium).

— Getting to the site of Viens

The footprint site is located 1 km south of Gignac. Park at the intersection between the road and the GR trail, and take the path heading towards Viens for 500 meters.
Calculate your route ^[3]