Fossil of the year 2025

Chemnitz is not only world-famous as a place where unique fossils are found - even the word "fossil" is a Chemnitz invention. in 1546, the mayor and polymath Georgius Agricola introduced it into scientific literature. The Palaeontological Society has chosen special fossils as "Fossil of the Year" since 2008. After 2010, 2015 and 2023, this is the fourth time that the Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz has been honoured with this award. In 2025, the focus was on the fossil shark capsule Fayolia sterzeliana from Chemnitz-Borna and Glösa, which at 330 million years old is around 40 million years older than the Petrified Forest. The Museum of Natural History inaugurated a new exhibition ensemble at the presentation event as part of the 50th annual meeting of vertebrate palaeontologists.