About This Project

Help us uncover 50-million-year-old fossil footprints in Argentina’s desert.

We need to use drones and 3D modeling to study ancient tracksites from the Eocene and Miocene—critical periods in the evolution of South American wildlife. These fossils reveal how birds and mammals adapted to environmental changes over millions of years.

We'll also film the expedition in 360° VR, so anyone can experience real science in action.

Support us and be part of real science in action!

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

This project builds on years of research in northwestern Argentina, where fossil tracks provide a rare record of faunal evolution after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Sites like Vinchina and Quebrada de Santo Domingo creek preserve footprints from the Eocene and Miocene, periods of rapid faunal diversification in birds and mammals. Our team has already studied isolated tracks (birds, turtles and mammals), but large, continuous outcrops remain unexplored. Inspired by the potential of ichnology to reveal ancient behaviors and ecological habitats, we aim to map and analyze these key fossil surfaces to better understand how ancient animals lived, moved, and responded to changing environments.

What is the significance of this project?

Footprints are more than just fossils—they are behavioral snapshots and powerful paleobiological proxies, revealing the composition and dynamics of extinct ecosystems. By studying these large-scale trackway deposits containing extensive footprint assemblages, we can produce high-resolution maps and 3D models that preserve them digitally, aiding both research and education. This immediately benefits the scientific community by:

1. Resolving debates about post-dinosaur faunal turnover (e.g., how mammal/bird communities reorganized after the K-Pg extinction —the event that occurred 66 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs—).

2. Creating an open-access digital archive, preserving irreplaceable data.

3. Enabling education through interactive models, making deep-time ecosystems tangible for students and the public.

These footprints complement South America’s fossil record, offering new insights into vertebrate evolution and broader faunal shifts across deep time.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to map and analyze tracksites from the Eocene and Miocene in Vinchina and Quebrada de Santo Domingo creek using drone-based photogrammetry.

We’ll conduct morphometric surveys with GPS and non-invasive methods, generating 3D models (point clouds, meshes, textures) via Agisoft Photoscan. Morphometric analysis will be performed in Geomagic Design X (3D) and ImageJ (2D). At each site, we’ll apply ecological diversity indices (Shannon-Weaver, Simpson, Fisher’s alpha, evenness) based on inferred trackmakers and life habits. Similarity across time will be assessed with the Jaccard index.

Simultaneously, we’ll film immersive 360° VR footage of the expedition to engage global audiences. Data will be openly shared, with scientific results submitted to peer-reviewed journals (e.g. Historical Biology), and VR content made freely available (e.g. YouTube). The October campaign is fully funded—your support covers the documentation tools and editing.