The Lithographic-limestone from
Solnhofen
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Solnhofen:
Solnhofen (near Munich in the south of Germany) is one of the world’s most famous
fossil sites. In the Upper Jurassic, approximately 150 million years ago, a lagoon with a
direct connection to the open sea covered this area. The deposits have formed
light-coloured rock layers that can easily be broken into plates. Already in the Middle
Ages these were used as roof and floor covering, but especially in the 19th
century they were used a lot in the lithographic industry. During this period, a lot of
fossils were found. Due to the fine-grained structure of the rocks, they show even the
smallest details. More than 400 different fossil animal species from the Solnhofen area
have been determined. Not only from marine animals such as fishes, crustaceans, star
fishes etc., but also from animals that lived on land. These have been carried to the
lagoon by rivers and mudflows (reptiles, insects, and even one dinosaur species,
Compsognathus), or flew above the lagoon and fell down in the water (maybe during a storm)
and drowned (pterosaurs, and the most famous of all Solnhofen fossils, the prehistoric
bird Archaeopteryx).
NOTE: All our lithographic
limestone fossils are of the highest quality and are classicly
prepared. There is NO restoration unless mentioned otherwise!
Bibliography:
Solnhofen, ein Blick in die Erdgeschichte, K.W. Barthel, 1978, Ott Verlag (Thun,
Switzerland)
Klassische Fundstellen der Paläontologie, Band I (p. 85-97, Die Solnhofener Plattenkalke,
P. Wellnhofer), W.K. Weidert, 1988, Goldschneck Verlag (Korb, Germany)
The fossils of Solnhofen, K.A. Frickhinger, 1994, Goldschneck Verlag (Korb, Germany)
The fossils of Solnhofen part 2, K.A. Frickhinger, 1999, Goldschneck Verlag (Korb,
Germany)
Europäische Fossillagerstätten (p. 143-150, Die Solnhofener Plattenkalke, G. Viohl),
European Palaeontological Association, 2000, Springer Verlag (Berlin, Germany)
For a larger image please click on the photo!