The Gansfontein palaeo-surface

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The Gansfontein palaeo-surface

It is said that time is in the stones and this is certainly true for the Karoo Hoogland region. Therapsida, regarded to be one of the earliest land animals, even before dinosaurs that once roamed this area, leaving their tracks in the mudstone. Today visitors can still see the scattered but fossilised remains of these magnificent beasts. Through archaeological evidence it is indicated that species such as the Diictoton and Bradysaurus once lived in this area.

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**Different markings on the** **palaeo-surface:**
Falling water-level contour marks From a discontinuously falling water-level	Mud cracks Drying-out of a muddy surface	Rill marks Drainage of a thin layer of water
Wrinkle marks From a discontinuously falling water-level	Ripple marks Formed on bottom by wave or stream action	Adhesion warts Drainage of the surface
Run-off channel (flow direction shown) Drainage of the surface	Worm trails Worms burrowing through fresh sediment	Fish fin-trails Fish fins scraping on bottom in shallow water
Worm trailsArthropod trails B - With median line from dragging tail	Reptile tracks A - Dinosephaliër/Dinocephalian B - Bradysaurus	The formation and burial of this palaeo- surface probably took only a week or so but the preservation of this insignificant little puddle and its foruitous exposure has given us a unique glimpse into the life and times of the ancient Karoo millions of years ago.

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