Maotianshan Shales, Fossil deposits in Chengjiang, China.
The Maotianshan Shales are rock layers in eastern China that formed long ago on an ancient seafloor and now hold fossils of early marine animals. The site covers several hundred hectares and is studied by scientists to learn more about life's early forms.
The layers were discovered in 1984 and date back about 500 million years to when seas covered eastern China. This period, known as the Cambrian, was a time of major changes in animal life.
The name refers to the Maotianshan mountain under which these layers rest. Visitors can observe how paleontologists work on-site and why this location matters so much for understanding the origins of life.
Access is limited since this is a protected scientific area that typically requires advance arrangements. Visitors should check what sections are open to the public and what guided tours are offered.
What sets this place apart is that many fossils here still show soft tissues that normally don't survive. This lets scientists see body details and structure of these ancient creatures that would otherwise be lost.
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