Solnhofen facts for kids
Solnhofen is a small town in Germany. It is located in a beautiful river valley called the Altmühl valley. This town is part of the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district, which is in the Middle Franconia region of Bavaria.
The area around Solnhofen is very famous for its special type of rock. This rock is called Solnhofen limestone. It is a very fine-grained type of limestone that formed a long, long time ago during the Upper Jurassic period. What makes this limestone so amazing is that it's a fantastic Lagerstätte. This is a special geology term for a place where many detailed fossils have been perfectly preserved.
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Amazing Fossils from Solnhofen
The Solnhofen limestone is like a time capsule! It has kept incredibly detailed fossils safe for millions of years. Scientists who study geology (the Earth's rocks and history) and archaeology (human history through digging up old things) love this area.
The Famous Archaeopteryx
One of the most exciting discoveries from Solnhofen is the Archaeopteryx. This ancient creature is very important because it's seen as a link between dinosaurs and modern birds. It had feathers like a bird but also teeth and a long bony tail like a dinosaur. All 13 known fossils of Archaeopteryx have been found only in the Solnhofen area. Its full name, Archaeopteryx lithographica, even includes a hint about the limestone it was found in!
Solnhofen and Printing
The special limestone from Solnhofen wasn't just good for fossils. It also played a big role in the history of printing!
The Invention of Lithography
In 1798, a man named Alois Senefelder invented a new printing method called lithography. He found that specially prepared blocks of the fine Solnhofen limestone were perfect for this process. Lithography allowed for new ways to print images and text. The limestone was so important for this invention that it's often called lithographic limestone.
Images for kids
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The Sola-Basilica
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The statue of Alois Senefelder
See also
In Spanish: Solnhofen para niños
