The Burgess Shale
fossils are one of Canada's natural treasures. They were discovered around
the turn of the 19th century in Yoho National Park, at the eastern border
of British Columbia.
The Burgess Shale
fossils are one of Canada's natural treasures. They were discovered around
the turn of the 19th century in Yoho National Park, at the eastern border
of British Columbia.
These fossils show creatures that lived 530 million years ago in fine detail.
Unlike most fossils, the soft parts of the bodies such as antenna have been
preserved. Because the remains of the creatures were trapped in an environment
that had very little oxygen, they did not decay. Scientists are still learning
from the Burgess Shale fossils.
The bottom fossil in these pictures is Marrella splendens also called
the lace crab. It is the most commonly found creature in the Burgess Shale
fossils and provided the name for the young woman who is a bioindicator
in The Secret Under My Skin.