The Plattenkalks: A fossil world frozen in time

The fossil record is notoriously incomplete, giving us only glimpses into the history of life on our planet throughout geological time. Konservat-Lagerstätten provides a rare opportunity to view ancient ecosystems in their entirety. Most advances in our understanding of prehistoric life come from exceptionally persevered biota- Lagerstätten. The Late Jurassic Plattenkalks of southern Germany have yielded some of the most beautiful fossils in the world (including the first -bird, Archaeopteryx!) These 150 million-year-old limestones from Bavaria provide a snapshot of a world frozen in time.