La Lieude and its Permian reptile footprints at the heart of the Geopark project

Geologist Loïc Ducarme, head of the Hérault Land Geopark Unit at the Departmental Council. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

In the Salagou sector, in the commune of Mérifons, the Lieude paleontological site is of inestimable value. It was purchased by the Department in June 2023. The slab, which shows many traces of creatures from the Permian era, has allowed the discovery of new species. It will be highlighted in conjunction with the Hérault Land Geopark.

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Geologist Loïc Ducarme is responsible for the Hérault Land Geopark Unit at the departmental council, which owns the Lieude paleontological site in the commune of Mérifons, in the Salagou sector, at the heart of the Geopark. “This site has international value. There are over 1,000 footprints of Permian creatures dating back 270 million years.” Traces of reptiles and therapsids, spread over 18 tracks “eight of which are very important because we were able to identify, thanks to them, four new species that were still unknown and date back to this period.” The slab, which had fallen somewhat into disrepair, was purchased from an association by the Department in June 2023. “We are going to try to preserve it. We have made an official request to be able to act on it. We are going to clean it. Then, we are going to bring in a scientific expert.”

Digital modeling

A great specialist in these remains, the academic Jean-David Moreau, a team from the Geopark and a few scientists, will ensure a 3D digitalization of the slab with the aim of creating a digital representation and “of preserving this very scientific trace important”. A digital material that could, in turn, be valued at the Lodève Museum, at the future Maison du Grand Site… “This slab tells us the story of these creatures. Here, there were potentially small temporary lakes where they came to drink.” Living beings much older than the dinosaurs…

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