Old signs of life
The present area includes a series of sub-vertically quartzite outcrops located over Vila Cova, from where it is possible to observe a significant amount and diversity of ichnofossils. This outcrops are the result of the deposition in a shallow marine environment, preserving several evidences of the living beings activity (ichnofossils), such as the traces of Cruziana resulting from the activity of arthropods. In the area identified as Ichnofossils of Vila Cova, there are big stratification surfaces, that exhibit a great amount and diversity of ichnofossils, such as the traces of Cruziana furcifera, that sometimes are semi-circular, C. rugosa and C. goldfussi. Another type of ichnofossils, such as the C. barriosi, Rusophycus isp., Skolitos linearis, Monomorphichnus ispp. or Didymaulichnus ispp. provide this place an increased relevance for the development of taphonomic and paleoecological studies.