Fossils of Florissant

by Herbert W. Meyer

The most diverse fossil bed in the United States provides a unique picture of what life was like 34 million years ago. In the rocks of Florissant, Colorado, lying in the shadow of Pike's Peak, is the evidence of a long-lost world. Encased by the ash of volcanoes that erupted tens of millions of years ago, animals such as insects, fish, and mammals were fossilized in the same deposits as flowers, trees, and the delicate leaves of plants. This amazing collection of animals and plants from the same place at the same time providse a rare, uniquely comprehensive glimpse of life in the past.

Through more than 200 color photographs and vivid descriptions of the fossils, Herbert Meyer brings the fossils of Florissant, Colorado to life, not only providing background on the plants and animals, but also exploring the warm environment in which they lived. The site was once a treasure trove for paleontologists who acquired the fossils for museums around the world; it is now protected as Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Meyer’s book reveals the beauty of both the site and its delicate fossils, and offers a compelling story of life long ago.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2003

Reviews

[Eric Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Fairly dense with paleontological and taxonomic terms and data, but still readable. The photographs of the specimens are beautiful, and at times stunning, especially the butterflies. A worthy addition to my library, especially since we got to see some of the specimens firsthand in 2018.

[Jon Taber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book after visiting the Florissant NM in Colorado, I hadn't planned on buying it (our fist stop was the visitors center/gift shop) because it was $40, but after walking around the site and seeing the petrified trees I went back an picked it up. Much of the book may be a bit much for the layperson with all of the scientific classifications and such, but there was a lot of interesting information in the book. It's not a casual read by any means, but if you enjoy learning about ancient life and have been to the FLorissant National Monument it's a good read.