Mazon Creek Fossil Beds
The fossils that were discovered in this site near Morris have formed over 309 million years ago.
Guide Sections
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Mazon Creek Fossil Beds Details
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The fossils that were discovered in this site near Morris have formed over 309 million years ago. Over 400 types of plants and 320 species of soft and hard-bodied animals have been unearthed over the last 150 years, including jellyfish, sea scorpions, snails, millipedes, spiders, and crabs. With such a diverse collection of creatures preserved in ironstone concretions, this site is one of the most important fossil sites not just in Illinois, but in the entire US. As such, it was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1997.