Anaerobic oxidation of methane in hypersaline Messinian environments revealed by 13C-depleted molecular fossils

► First report of anaerobic oxidation of methane in ancient hypersaline environments ► Messinian hypersaline sediments were populated by methanotrophic archaea and sulphate-reducing bacteria ► 13C-depleted molecular fossils document methane uptake ► The microbial consortium induced carbonate precipitation