Messel Pit Fossil Site

The Messel Pit Fossil Site, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 1995, holds some of the richest deposits of mammal fossils in the world.

To date, geoscientists have unearthed approx. 50,000 individual finds from the former volcanic crater lake, formed around 47 million years ago. These include ancestors of today’s mammals (e.g. prehistoric horses), fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians and plants. The preservation of fully articulated skeletons, skin and hair, unborn foetuses and stomach contents that reveal the animal’s last meal is truly remarkable. Museums in Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Messel display fascinating exhibits from the Messel pit and preserve them for future generations. From 2010, visitors can also discover more about ‘Time and the Worlds of Messel’ at the visitor centre. This window on the past is situated approx. 10km east of Darmstadt in the forests of the Messel hills and is easily accessible from Frankfurt.