The celebrated Solnhofen limestone is among the most important fossil deposits because of its astonishing diversity of organisms, many exquisitely preserved. This book illustrates many of the marine and terrestrial creatures and plants, buried 150 million years ago in soft lagoonal muds, to provide a unique glimpse into the true diversity of Jurassic life. Highlights include Archaeopteryx. This is an authoritative account of the geological history, palaeoecology, palaeoenvironment and fossil taxonomy of this classic location. It will be of great interest to palaeontologists and evolutionary biologists, as well as to amateur collectors, natural historians and anyone with an interest in the history of life. This book is a revised and updated translation of Werner Barthel's classic work.