Holzmaden – a Jurassic gem

FOSSIL EXHIBITION

Where rocks tell the tale of a forgotten sea

An extraordinary partnership to preserve paleontological heritage

This exhibition is the result of a remarkable partnership between Interprospekt Group—renowned for curating a fresh showcase every year—and the Urweltsteinbruch Holzmaden Museum.

A 180-million-year-old deposit

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Swabian Jura in southern Germany, the tiny village of Holzmaden is home to one of the most extraordinary fossil sites on Earth. Nearly 180 million years old, this marine deposit from the Early Jurassic period is incredibly rich in organic matter and globally renowned for the stunning preservation of its fossils.

When stone unveils life in the Jurassic

Locals have been quarrying shale here since the 1500s, originally for building materials. Along the way, they began uncovering breathtaking marine fossils—ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, ammonites, belemnites, crinoids, even traces of fish and ancient plants—so exquisitely preserved they seem almost alive. The secret lies in the shale itself: a fine, bitumen-rich clay laid down in a low-oxygen seafloor environment, which helped keep delicate remains intact, down to skin, stomach contents—even embryos.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Holzmaden’s quarries were worked by local farmers who turned into fossil hunters during the off-season. Their passion and craftsmanship, passed from one generation to the next, helped build one of the world’s most impressive collections of Jurassic marine fossils—now proudly housed in the Urweltsteinbruch Holzmaden Museum.

A glimpse into the Jurassic ocean

Holzmaden offers a rare glimpse into Europe’s prehistoric seas: warm, shallow waters once covering much of present-day Germany, teeming with marine life. Unlike most fossil sites, Holzmaden’s specimens are not just abundant—they’re often complete, fully articulated, and preserved in extraordinary detail, making them an invaluable resource for science, museums, and our understanding of life in the Jurassic ocean.

Holzmaden – where nature, culture, and science meet

But Holzmaden is more than just fossils. It’s a powerful symbol of what happens when rural heritage, hands-on tradition, and scientific curiosity come together. It’s this unique synergy that led to the site’s legal protection—and why fossils from Holzmaden continue to amaze and inspire visitors from around the world.