Fossilized “dinosaur eggs” have been excavated in southern Russia's Republic of Chechnya. Locals are excited about prospects the discovery might open for their tourism industry. Scientists are doubtful.

­The discovery was made near the village of Khimoy during road construction works, reports Russia’s Channel Five network. The workers broke open a rock and noticed sphere-like structures that were “sticking out.”

“We've found about 40 eggs so far, the exact number has not been established,” a senior geologist at the Chechen State University, Said-Emin Dzhabrailov, told Russia’s NTV channel. "There could be many more under the ground."

Dzhabrailov says his group was travelling in the region to examine remote waterfalls. The war made the region inaccessible for a long time and many areas remain largely unexplored.