NEW DISCOVERIES OF MIOCENE VERTEBRATES IN THE DERA-BUGTI SYNCLINE (BALUCHISTAN, PAKISTAN)

Since Forster-Cooper in 1910, no paleontologist has visited the area o f Dera Bugti in Baluchistan (Pakistan). In 1995 and 1996, two small Fr ench expeditions prospected the syncline of Dera Bugti. They establish ed stratigraphical sections and discovered many fossils, mainly reptil es and mammals. On top of the Eocene marine limestone of the Kirtbar t here lies a Burdigalian marine falun, Above, about 250 m of continenta l marls, sands and sandstones are deposited. The first 100 in have yie lded five fossiliferous levels of MN3 b in age, and one of MN4, surrou nded by a more sandy series. The top of the series has yielded Hippari on of the Upper Miocene.