Derek E. G. Briggs – författare

A spectacular collectible volume, with masterful photographs and expert commentary on some of the world's most striking fossilsAbout four hundred million years ago earthquake activity and possibly major storms caused sudden movements of large quantities of muddy sediment along the seafloor. Animal communities in the path of these sediment-laden flows were instantly engulfed, the inhabitants "frozen" in the last moment of their lives. Amazingly, many of the creatures lost in this ancient catastrophe were almost perfectly preserved through the eons, fossilized in a thick series of muds now known as the Hunsrück Slate west of the Rhine Valley in western Germany. Excavations there have yielded the most diverse and surpassingly beautiful collection of marine fossils of the Devonian period ever discovered.This book pays tribute to the exquisite fossils of the Hunsrück Slate. Large full-color photographic plates display fossil sponges, brachiopods, clams, starfish, sea lilies, trilobites, worms, sea spiders, sea stars, crustaceans, corals, and many other species. An accessible commentary recounts the discovery of the fossils and explains how the slate was formed, how the animals are preserved, the significance of the fossils, and the controversies that surround them. A special presentation in every way, this book makes an exceptional contribution to the fascinating history of life on Earth.

Palaeobiology: A Synthesis was widely acclaimed both for its content and production quality.

Ten years on, Derek Briggs and Peter Crowther have once again brought together over 150 leading authorities from around the world to produce Palaeobiology II. Using the same successful formula, the content is arranged as a series of concise articles, taking a thematic approach to the subject, rather than treating the various fossil groups systematically.

This entirely new book, with its diversity of new topics and over 100 new contributors, reflects the exciting developments in the field, including accounts of spectacular newly discovered fossils, and embraces data from other disciplines such as astrobiology, geochemistry and genetics.

Palaeobiology II will be an invaluable resource, not only for palaeontologists, but also for students and researchers in other branches of the earth and life sciences.

Written by an international team of recognised authorities in the field. Content is concise but informative. Demonstrates how palaeobiological studies are at the heart of a range of scientific themes.

This beautifully illustrated book describes one of the most famous fossil deposits known: the Hunsrück Slate of Germany. These spectacular fossils, in which not just the hard parts but also the soft-tissues of the animals are preserved in pyrite in many cases, provide the most complete record available of life in the Devonian seas. First published in 1998, the book provides a comprehensive account of these remarkable fossils. It is written in an accessible style, and is extensively illustrated with photographs and X-radiographs of many of the finest specimens. The book reviews the different plant and animal groups, and includes a complete taxonomic list and comprehensive bibliography. It will be of most value to researchers and graduate students in palaeontology, geology and evolutionary biology, but it will also be of interest to amateur collectors and natural historians.