"Debunked: Uncovering the Truth Behind a Famous 280 Million-Year-Old Fossil"
A rare 280 million-year-old fossil resembling a lizard-like creature, named Tridentinosaurus antiquus, was found to be mostly a carved rock painted black, with only genuine hind-limb bones and tiny bone scales preserved in the rock. The discovery was made when researchers reexamined the fossil with modern techniques, revealing that the dark coloration previously thought to be preserved skin was actually paint. The study's lead author, Valentina Rossi, believes the additional carving and paint may have been poor fossil preparation in years past, rather than an outright forgery. The fossil's identity remains uncertain, but the presence of osteoderms leads researchers to believe it was a reptile-like animal of some kind.