This volume focusses on geoscientific aspects of the Middle Eocene Messel Pit Fossil Site. One central theme is the Messel oil-shale (black-pelite) deposit. The creation of the Messel oil-shale must have begun about 47 million years ago. At Messel Fossil Site many fossils of considerable significance are still found. The other focus are various palaeontological topics with articles that include findings on climate, vegetation dynamics and the first comprehensive taxa catalogue of the fossil insects of Messel.
