La Laguna Celebrates Fossil Day, Showcases Plant Fossil Find

La Laguna celebrated 'International Fossil Day' this Thursday with a public event showcasing a plant fossil found on San Roque mountain, near the city's historic center.

The event, held in the Crystal Room of the former Santo Domingo convent, attracted experts, students, and locals interested in La Laguna's natural history.

Carolina Castillo Ruiz, a paleontology professor at the University of La Laguna (ULL), geologist María Candelaria Martín Luis, and doctoral student María del Cristo Velasco Flores, who is researching Tenerife's plant fossils, presented the discovery.

The fossil, recently shown at the FloraMac 2025 international conference and researched with Carlos Göis Marques from Madeira, is one of the few records of prehistoric plants found within La Laguna's city limits.

The presentation was part of 'Following the Footprints of the Past: An Interpretive Route Through La Laguna's Paleontological Treasures,' a project led by ULL with the help of high school students.

This project is a joint effort between La Laguna City Council's Cultural Heritage, Rural Development, Local Development, and Environment departments, along with the Cabildo de Tenerife Volunteer Office, the Telesforo Bravo-Juan Coello Foundation, and the IES Doctor Antonio González González school in Tejina.

The event included images of the fossil and informational posters about the area's paleontological heritage, including extinct animals like the giant lizard of Tenerife.

Attendees learned how fossil molds, created by volcanic sediments, provide important details about the plant life before humans arrived, as well as the region's volcanic activity and climate, according to the City Council.

The day also aimed to connect science with the local area, raise environmental awareness, and highlight the teamwork between students, researchers, and public organizations. It also reinforced La Laguna's dedication to protecting and sharing its natural heritage.