Grube Messel

The pit Messel - a window to the primeval times
The fossil deposit Grube Messel was included in 1995 as the first German natural monument in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. It uniquely sheds light on the early evolution of mammals and documents the history of Earth's evolution 48 million years ago, when explosive changes in the flora and fauna took place after the end of the dinosaur age.

Several 10,000 fossils from the Eocene have so far been recovered in the Maarvulkan Lake, which was formed 48 million years ago, and every year around 3,000 new finds are added. In addition to the high number and diversity of animal and plant fossils, their unique preservation of full-body skeletons, skin and coat shadows, feathers and stomach contents is particularly evident in the Messel pit.

The pit Messel - a window to the primeval timesThe fossil deposit Grube Messel was included in 1995 as the first German natural monument in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. It uniquely sheds light on the early evolution of mammals and documents the history of Earth's evolution 48 million years ago, when explosive changes in the flora and fauna took place after the end of the dinosaur age.Several 10,000 fossils from the Eocene have so far been recovered in the Maarvulkan Lake, which was formed 48 million years ago, and every year around 3,000 new finds are added. In addition to the high number and diversity of animal and plant fossils, their unique preservation of full-body skeletons, skin and coat shadows, feathers and stomach contents is particularly evident in the Messel pit.Guided tours take place every day and invite you to discover this unique site.grube-messel.de

Guided tours take place every day and invite you to discover this unique site. Visitors to this place will be amazed by the variety of topics reflected in the permanent exhibition "Time and Messel Worlds" at the Visitor Center. Here it is u.a. about industrial history, landscape, volcanism, rainforest and evolution. The treasury with several original finds also exerts a great fascination.Source :
grube-messel.de

From the visitor platform (free of charge) on the edge of the pit best view of the entire archaeological site! Billboards explain all the details.

During the opening hours you can ride the bike for free to the edge of the pit. Nice view and information board.

An absolute must for everyone who wants to find out more about the development of the earth.

There's education here. Must see.

A look at our past.

Notice board for the "Zeitstrahlweg" at the Messel pit

Messel pit, always worth a visit.
After all, it is one of the most important sites for finding fossils (including one of the Archeopteryx variants).