Four-million-year-old whale skeleton found in Italy

The skeleton of a 33-foot prehistoric whale has been found in the Tuscan countryside.

Italian researchers said the discovery could shed light on the ancient environment of the sea.

The skeleton dates to four million years ago, to the Pliocene era, said palaeontologists with the Museum of Natural History in Florence who are studying the fossil.

“The finding is spectacular,” said Elisabetta Cioppi, an official in the museum’s palaeontology department and co-ordinator of the excavations.

Cioppi said the skeleton was complete and a variety of organisms were found around the fossil as well.

“This will enable us to conduct an in-depth analysis on the paleo environment,” she said in a statement.

Researchers said the skeleton was found a few weeks ago in Orciano Pisano, in the countryside about 50 miles east of Florence. It was found about 300ft below ground in what used to be the sea occupying most of today’s Tuscany, the statement said

The fossil is expected to be taken to the Museum of Natural History in Florence and put on display once it is restored and conserved.