Yixian Formation

fossils · ancient China · dinosaur era · geology

Dinosaur graveyard. The Yixian Formation in China has revealed some of the most beautifully preserved dinosaur and animal fossils ever found, giving scientists incredible glimpses into life 130 million years ago.

Volcanic preservation. The rocks here are mostly made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that cooled from lava flows and helped protect the fossils inside from decay and damage.

Crystal clear details. Fossils in the Yixian Formation are so perfectly preserved that scientists can see tiny details like feathers, skin patterns, and even the last meals in stomachs of ancient creatures.

Hidden in Liaoning. This remarkable formation is located near Jinzhou in Liaoning Province in northeastern China, one of the world's greatest sources of early dinosaur and prehistoric animal fossils.

Cretaceous snapshot. The rocks formed during the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, a specific slice of time between 125 and 130 million years ago.