Researchers have discovered the oldest, deepest, and most extensive whale graveyard ever found, located in the Indian Ocean. The site contains fossils more than five million years old and extends over hundreds of miles, reaching depths beyond seven kilometers. The international research team from China, Italy, and New Zealand used a submersible to explore the Diamantina Fracture Zone, where they identified 485 fossil sites and five modern whale fall locations.

Dr. Giovanni Bianucci of the University of Pisa said the discovery shows that extreme and unexplored environments can host unknown species and ecosystems, revealing how life adapts and evolves under high pressure and low light. Stephen J. Godfrey of the Calvert Marine Museum described the find as unique, suggesting it could lead to further discoveries.

The study, published in the journal Nature, also reported the discovery of a five‑meter Antarctic minke whale skeleton and a fossilized skull of an extinct beaked whale species estimated to be 5.3 million years old. Professor Jon Copley of the University of Southampton noted that finding around 800 skeletons per square kilometer is astonishing.