Signs of ancient “microbial life” were detected by NASA on Mars, in a rock first explored by the Perseverance rover.

The Cheyava rock is shaped like an arrowhead, and on it were found “signs that the Red Planet hosted life billions of years ago,” NASA said Thursday.

The rock contains organic compounds that imply that the Mars it may have harbored microbial life when water flowed onto the planet.

According to nypost, the specimen was found at the northern edge of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley a quarter of a mile wide, carved by water rushing into the Jezero Crater long ago.

“We designed the path for Perseverance to make sure it goes to areas with the potential for interesting science samples,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington.

“This trip through the Neretva Vallis riverbed paid off, as we found something we’ve never seen before, which will give our scientists so much to study.”