Researchers report the discovery of an exceptionally large “whale graveyard” in the southeastern Indian Ocean. Multiple outlets describe the site as a deep-sea necropolis of whale remains that includes both fossilized bones and other carcass material, with evidence spanning hundreds of miles of ocean floor. Depth estimates cited across reports place the site at roughly 7 km below the surface, in the Diamantina fracture zone, making it among the deepest whale-fall sites documented. Fossils dated by the studies are said to be at least about 5 million years old, with some reports mentioning ranges around 5.3 million years. The remains are described as including skeletons and skulls from multiple whale types, such as beaked and baleen whales. Scientists say the whale falls have supported long-term, specialized deep-ocean ecosystems, attracting diverse scavenging and bottom-dwelling organisms. Several sources also say the discovery includes evidence for new species of marine life associated with the carcasses and may reveal previously unknown aspects of deep-ocean biodiversity and whale evolutionary history. The findings are reported as having been published by scientific journals including Nature.