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Fossils of the Swabian Alb

The Swabian Alb and the Posidonia Shale near Holzmaden are world-famous for fossils. Ammonites, belemnites, sea lilies and marine reptiles here come from the Jurassic sea.

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Fossilien an der Schwäbischen Alb
Foto: Didier Descouens (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0

Around 180 million years ago an oxygen-poor Jurassic sea preserved life here exceptionally well. The Posidonia Shale still yields spectacular finds today. orecast shows the documented fossil sites nearby and makes clear where legal, often fee-based collecting on designated sites is possible and where it is not.

The heart of it all lies below the Alb escarpment between Holzmaden and Ohmden. The Urwelt-Museum Hauff in Holzmaden displays what this shale can hold: ichthyosaurs several metres long, pterosaurs, marine crocodiles and a fossil sea lily colony covering roughly a hundred square metres, one of the largest slabs of its kind anywhere. Next door, the Kromer shale quarry in Ohmden runs a public splitting site where visitors pay a small fee and work genuine Posidonia Shale themselves, the same rock the museum pieces came out of.

Dotternhausen, further south-west at the foot of the Plettenberg, offers a similar setup. The fossil museum there belongs to the cement works and sits right beside the active shale quarry, and its splitting field is stocked with fresh slabs. Realistic finds at both places are small ammonites of the genus Dactylioceras, belemnite rostra and the occasional fish scale. One local rule is worth asking about on site: exceptional pieces of scientific value may need to be shown to the operators or reported, a point German state heritage law takes seriously.

It pays to arrive with grounded expectations. The showpieces in the display cases came from professional excavations and carry hundreds of hours of preparation work per slab. On a public splitting site, a clean five-centimetre ammonite makes a good afternoon. That still means holding something no living creature has seen for 180 million years, split open by your own hand. Tools can usually be rented at the sites; sturdy shoes and a bit of patience you bring yourself.

11documented mineral & ore points
546fossil sites
855historical sites
☢️ 176 sites within 45 km are flagged as war or WWII sites with possible unexploded ordnance. Never dig there, it is a danger to life.

Documented finds nearby

Fossil sites nearby

Collecting, law & safety

A promising geology is never a guarantee, and you will not find invented numbers here. Collecting and digging are regulated across Europe and usually need a permit. Protected sites, nature reserves and disused mines are off-limits and can be deadly.

Frequently asked questions

Where may I collect fossils on the Swabian Alb?

At designated collecting sites, such as some quarries, often for a fee and with clear rules. Protected areas and private land are off-limits. Ask the operator or municipality beforehand.

Which fossils occur here?

Mostly ammonites and belemnites, more rarely sea lilies, fish and marine reptiles from the Lower Jurassic, the Posidonia Shale.

Do I need special tools?

For most sites a hammer, chisel and safety goggles are enough. Permission and caution matter more, because quarries are dangerous.

More guides:
Gold & ore in the Harz · Silver & minerals in the Ore Mountains · Gold & minerals in the Black Forest · Volcanoes & geology of the Eifel · Find fossils near me · Gold panning near me · Rockhounding near me · How to identify fossils · How to identify rocks and minerals · Collecting fossils and minerals: allowed or not?