Researchers claim dinosaur fossils were buried by cave-ins, not volcanic eruptions

In recent research concerning the Yixian Formation in China, scientists have reevaluated the burial methods of ancient creatures, challenging the long-held belief that catastrophic volcanic activity led to mass fossilization. The study utilized advanced geochemical dating on zircon minerals from the formation's rocks, revealing that two distinct types of fossils present were formed within a narrow time frame of just 93,000 years. However, the fossils did not originate from a singular catastrophic event; instead, the evidence suggests that the creatures lived through a normal cycle of life and death. The rocks were found to contain signs of aquatic sedimentation rather than the extreme conditions associated with volcanic flows, leading researchers to hypothesize that a more gradual burial process occurred. This theory is bolstered by the discovery of finely-grained sediments surrounding the fossils, indicating possible cave-ins of dinosaur burrows rather than entombment by hot ash or rock. Notably, the fossilized poses of creatures depict resting rather than fighting, which aligns with a peaceful burial rather than a violent event. Furthermore, the sediments indicate rapid deposition during high rainfall intervals, allowing fossils to be swiftly buried in low-oxygen environments conducive to exceptional fossil preservation. The implications of this research shift the perspective on fossil formation processes and raise questions about the standard narratives associated with historic Cretaceous ecosystems in the region.