Monte Bolca is a small limestone hill located in northern Italy, which is renowned for its exceptional fossil deposits. The pronunciation of Monte Bolca is /ˈmɒnteɪ ˈbɒlkə/, where the first syllable is pronounced with the English "o" sound (as in "tone"), and the second syllable with a short "o" sound (as in "hot"). The word "Bolca" is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable, and the "c" is pronounced as a "k" sound. Accurate pronunciation of Monte Bolca is important for academics and paleontology enthusiasts who seek to explore its remarkable fossil collections.
Monte Bolca is a small village located in the municipality of Vestenanova, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The name "Monte Bolca" is derived from the Latin words "Mons" meaning mountain and "bucca" meaning hole or opening.
Monte Bolca is historically and scientifically significant due to its rich fossil deposits, particularly from the Eocene period, dating back approximately 50 million years ago. These fossil deposits are commonly referred to as the "Lagerstätte di Monte Bolca" or the Monte Bolca Fossil Site. The site is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossils, particularly of fish and marine organisms.
The Monte Bolca fossils provide valuable insight into the diverse life forms that inhabited the ancient Tethys Ocean, which extended across present-day Europe during the Eocene period. They have played a crucial role in understanding the evolution, paleobiology, and biodiversity of ancient marine ecosystems.
Scientists and paleontologists from around the world have extensively studied and documented the fossils found in Monte Bolca. Numerous species have been identified, including various types of bony fish, cartilaginous fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and plants.
Today, Monte Bolca has become a popular destination for tourists, paleontologists, and fossil enthusiasts. The local museum and exhibition center, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, displays a vast collection of Monte Bolca fossils, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore and appreciate the remarkable ancient marine life that once existed in the region.
A locality near Verona, in Italy, celebrated for its fossil fishes, found in a fissile cream-coloured limestone of the Upper Tertiary age.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Monte Bolca" has origins in the Italian language. "Monte" means "mountain" in Italian, while "Bolca" refers to a village located in the Veneto region, near Verona, Italy. Therefore, "Monte Bolca" translates to "Bolca Mountain" in English. The name gained prominence due to the presence of a famous fossil site in the area, known as the Monte Bolca Lagerstätte, which has yielded numerous exceptionally preserved fossils from the Eocene epoch, around 50 million years ago.