A 290-Million-Year-Old Footprint

Along the shores of Hillsborough Bay in Prince Edward Island (PEI), a footprint broke the silence of the rocks. Not just any footprint, but a trace left roughly 290 million years ago by an ancient inhabitant of the planet. The fossil, measuring about 25 centimetres across, was discovered by Patrick Brunet, a resident and self-taught researcher, and it drew immediate attention from scientists around the world.

Specialists believe the track may have been left by a pareiasaur, an enormous prehistoric herbivore that lived when all continents formed the supercontinent Pangaea. Formal confirmation is still underway, led by an international team that is studying the footprint’s morphology and the rock’s composition in detail.

At that time, PEI’s landscapes were very different from what we see today. Broad flooded plains, seasonal rivers, and a hot, humid climate favoured the accumulation of sediments that, over time, became the reddish rocks that now define the Island. These formations from the Permian Period make Prince Edward Island one of Canada’s most important sites for studying the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. Each new find reinforces the region’s scientific value, rivalling classic fossil localities in the southwestern United States and in Europe.

For Core Case, which operates a facility in Summerside (PEI), it is a privilege to be in a region that preserves so much of Earth’s history. Every rock, layer, and record reminds us why geology fascinates us and why understanding the past is essential for building the future. We develop solutions that help preserve, organize and make sense of drill core from the subsurface, connecting science and innovation.

Our team is proud to be part of this Island that brings together history, research and community.

References

Government of Prince Edward Island. Large fossil footprint found in PEI. (Oct. 23, 2025). Available at: princeedwardisland.ca
Wikipedia. Geology of Prince Edward Island. (Accessed Oct. 2025). Available at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island

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