Coumiac, Stone quarry and fossil site in Cessenon-sur-Orb, France.
Coumiac is a stone quarry and fossil site in Cessenon-sur-Orb where layers of rock from different geological periods are exposed. The walls of the excavation reveal ancient sediments and show how marine life evolved over millions of years.
Workers started extracting quality stone from this quarry during the 1800s for use in construction projects across the region. The mining activity inadvertently exposed fossils and rock layers that would later become important to scientific understanding.
The site shows visitors how layers of rock tell stories of ancient times, and demonstrates how a working quarry has become a place for learning about the planet's past. Walking through, you notice how the excavation itself became the tool for scientific discovery.
You can walk through the site on your own, with signs placed at key spots explaining what you see in the rock layers. Wear sturdy shoes as the paths are uneven and some areas slope steeply.
This quarry serves as a reference point that scientists worldwide use to define a specific chapter in Earth's history. The rocks here are so well-documented that they help geologists everywhere measure and understand ancient time periods.
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