IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Construction crews have unearthed fossilized coral reefs and animals at the University of Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KGAN reports that the fossils recently were found during work on the Seaman’s Center Annex on the university campus in Iowa City.

Experts say the marine fossils reflect life and nature of what was a shallow sea 385 million years ago that became what now is Iowa. Geologist Ryan Clark says “there’s probably half a dozen or more different animals fossilized in this particular rock.”  Some of the fossil samples will be used for research at the university’s Paleontology Depository.