California workers uncover 40-million-year-old fossils, possibly thunder beast

California crews uncover possible 45-million-year-old ‘thunder beast’ fossils in Oceanside (Image Credit: City of Oceanside) Workers on a routine infrastructure project in Oceanside, California, recently uncovered the fossilised remains of a large, hoofed mammal that lived tens of millions of years ago. The significant find, which included several limb bones, ribs and numerous other bones and fragments, was uncovered approximately 12 feet below the surface during routine excavation for a city infrastructure project, according to the City of Oceanside. A palaeontologist now believes the bones belong to one of two extinct, rhino-sized mammals that roamed North America during the Eocene Epoch.Why the fossils were unearthed during routine monitoring of a construction projectJoseph El Adli, PhD, the city's principal palaeontologist, discovered the site during routine monitoring and immediately secured the area to begin additional excavation. The city has kept the exact location under wraps; other outlets that covered the release reported this is meant to protect the site from unauthorised digging that could damage further fossils still in the ground.His team worked over a period of seve...