Messel Pit Fossil Site
Country
Germany
Inscribed in
1995
Criterion
(viii)
The conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "good" in the latest assessment cycle. Explore the Conservation Outlook Assessment for the site below. You have the option to access the summary, or the detailed assessment.
Messel Pit is the richest site in the world for understanding the living environment of the Eocene, between 57 million and 36 million years ago. In particular, it provides unique information about the early stages of the evolution of mammals and includes exceptionally well-preserved mammal fossils, ranging from fully articulated skeletons to the contents of stomachs of animals of this period. © UNESCO
Summary
2025 Conservation Outlook
Finalised on
11 Oct 2025
Good
Current state and trend of VALUES
Good
Overall THREATS
Overall PROTECTION and MANAGEMENT
Full assessment
Description of values
Record of the Middle Eocene environment
Criterion
(viii)
Single best site which contributes to the understanding of the middle part of the Eocene. Very strong contribution to explain paleofauna, paleoflora and paleoenvironment of the Eocene (IUCN, 1995), and unique record of a complex subtropical ecosystem (with habitats extensively reconstructable in a wide variety of biotopes) from the early Tertiary (World Heritage Committee, 2013; Dunne et al. 2014; Lenz et al., 2018a; Wilde, 2018; Smith et al., 2018; Lenz et al., 2017; Lenz et al., 2018b; Richter et al., 2017; Albrecht et al., 2023; Kaboth-Bahr et al., 2024; Schmitt et al., 2024).
Quality of preservation
Criterion
(viii)
The preservation is exceptional. The taxonomic spectrum is very broad (plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates). Vertebrates are represented by complete skeletons together with the remains of soft parts and gut contents. Invertebrates show many morphological details; some even have their gut contents preserved. Coloration is partly preserved (pigments, structural colours). All kinds of plant organs are present (leaves, blossoms, fruits, branches and pollen (IUCN, 1995; Smith et al., 2018; Franzen & Habersetzer, 2017; O'Reilly et al., 2017; Wedmann et al., 2021a, b; de Mazancourt et al. 2022; Bartel et al. 2024; Geier et al., 2024; Jiang et al. 2025).
Richness and diversity of fossils
Criterion
(viii)
To date 1409 fossil taxa have been documented (Smith et al., 2024a), including hundreds of species of insects (Wedmann, 2018; Albrecht et al., 2023) and plants (e.g., Collinson et al., 2012; Wilde, 2018; Bouchal et al. 2024) as well as 171 vertebrate species (Smith et al., 2018, 2024a).
Early evolution of mammals
Criterion
(viii)
Documenting an early stage of the evolution of mammals (51 species are known in Messel), when many basic steps in diversifications were being achieved. Messel documents a time when mammals became firmly established in all the principal land ecosystems, and when they took to the air (bats) (IUCN, 1995; World Heritage Committee, 2013; Koenigswald et al., 2018; Franzen & Gingerich, 2018; Kurz & Koenigswald, 2018; Lehmann, 2018; Habersetzer et al., 2018; Ruf & Lehmann, 2018; Gunnell et al., 2018; Franzen, 2018).
Assessment information
The only current threat to the World Heritage site is from landslides of the slopes of the pit. A monitoring system (with water drainage and a network of inclinometers) is present to monitor any increase of landslide-risks at the slopes. A landslide of the slope of the pit may directly impact the integrity of parts of the site. This current threat may hinder future research excavations in certain parts, but it will have a low or very limited impact on the World Heritage values of the site, which are based on its fossil content. Thousands of fossils are already in public institutions and adequately curated, which is a guarantee of the conservation of the site’s values.
Changes in Physical & Chemical Regimes, Changes in Precipitation & Hydrological Regime
(Landslides)
Inside site
, Extent of threat not known
Climate change, and in particular heavy rain falls can affect the site. Current forecasts indicate a possible increase of climatic events such as heavy rainfalls (State Party of Germany, 2006; Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Such events may have major consequences on the integrity of the site through landslides of the slopes in the pit, but the risk is judged as low. An active system of measurements has been installed since the 1990s to monitor the stability of the slopes (network of inclinometers, Messel Pit WH Management Plan, 2009: see map p. 49; Schaal and Rabenstein, 2012). Additionally, continuous water drainage takes place to stabilize the slopes (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Research has been undertaken to propose measures if an increase in slides should occur (State Party of Germany, 2006). For stabilisation of the western slope of the pit, a slope-protection retaining structure consisting of 99 bored piles was built in the winter 2009/2010 (Dürrwang et al., 2011). This effectively secures this slope which is important for the access of both visitors and scientific teams to the Messel pit.
A few potential threats (impact of growing tourism and of scientific activities) have a very low impact because they are well identified, and the management system has already proposed measures to mitigate against these.
Recreational Activities
(Increase in visitor numbers)
Inside site
, Scattered(5-15%)
Since pre-Corona pandemic, the number of visitors has increased for the first time again by 10% to 30,000 visitors in 2023 (P Stadt Kultur Magazin, 2024). The mean thus far has been approx. 40,000 annually over the last 16 years (originally 100,000 annually were considered possible). Tourism pressure is expected to increase in the future and could possibly have a negative impact on the site. However, this risk is very low because visitors are only able to access the pit in guided tours and the number of visitors descending into the pit is strictly controlled with a maximum number of 50 participants for each of the currently up to eight guided tours that take place simultaneously (Messel Pit WH Management Plan, 2009). The guided tours remain on the dedicated path, mostly covered (tar or gravels), so that the critical sedimentological substance of the site is not directly affected by the tourists. Additionally, most of the tourists visit the Visitor Information Centre, which is not located in the site but in its vicinity and therefore will have no direct impact on the integrity of site.
Other Human Disturbances
(Scientific activities)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
Scientific excavations take place every year from spring to autumn. The excavations are undertaken by permanent teams and volunteers, which are mostly students. Excavations remove oil shale to expose and salvage fossils, which are the key-values of the Messel Pit. In the long-term, removing oil shale could negatively impact the integrity of the complete oil shale deposit. However, the risk is very low due to protective and active measures undertaken by the Senckenberg Research Institute and the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, which are responsible for the scientific activities led in the pit. The scientific excavations are strictly controlled, and minimum requirements are necessary to have a granted access to the fossil-bearing oil shale sediments (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009; Wedmann and Schaal, 2010, 2011).
As a result of the Darmstadt-Colloquium (2017), scientific excavations need to meet the requirements of the digging and documentation guidelines of the Hessian State Office for Monuments and Sites (the central specialist authority in Hesse) (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, 2019). As annex to the digging permission required by the Hessian Monument Protection Act, the guidelines facilitate the implementation of the Hessian Monument Protection Act within the paleontological monument and the World Heritage site.
As a result of the Darmstadt-Colloquium (2017), scientific excavations need to meet the requirements of the digging and documentation guidelines of the Hessian State Office for Monuments and Sites (the central specialist authority in Hesse) (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, 2019). As annex to the digging permission required by the Hessian Monument Protection Act, the guidelines facilitate the implementation of the Hessian Monument Protection Act within the paleontological monument and the World Heritage site.
Involvement of stakeholders and rightsholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities, in decision-making processes
There is a scientific advisory board, which includes experts and representatives of organizations devoted to conservation of the site, as well as representatives of participating administrative bodies. The Mining Authority is to be regularly informed about the investigation authorisations according to monument rights and receives maps from the Hessian Federal State Office for Heritage Protection about the fixed excavation spots (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Furthermore, the local population and the community of Messel are included in decision-making (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009).
Legal framework
The legal framework is effective in maintaining the site’s values (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009: see 3.2). The site is protected via the Hessian Heritage Protection Act (HDSchG) from 1974, the Hessian Nature Conservation Act of 1980 and the Mining Act of the German Federal Government of 13 August 1980. There is no land tenure issue since the sole landowner of the Messel Pit Fossil Site is the State of Hesse (through the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts, one of the key partners in the management of the site; Messel Pit WH Management Plan, 2009). The legal framework is effectively enforced (perimeter fence, buffer zone, surveillance by foot patrols) (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009).
Governance arrangements
The State of Hesse is the legal owner of the Messel Fossil Pit and therefore it is owned by the public. The administration is jointly managed by the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) and Messel Pit World Heritage Non-Profit Limited (WGM gGmbH). WGM gGmbH is also jointly owned by the Federal State of Hesse. The Messel Fossil Pit is administrated separately from the federal state’s budget.
Integration into local, regional and national planning systems (including sea/landscape connectivity)
The integration into regional and national planning systems is highly effective through an effective network of communication and cooperation (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Several stakeholders can be identified, all being involved in the management of the site: Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts, the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company (Messel Management Plan, 2009).
Boundaries
Different layers of protection apply. The buffer zone has been categorized into five so-called “geoscientific priority areas”, which ensure that scientific excavations are kept within reasonable limits and particular care is taken to protect the more valuable strata of the oil shale. The categories are as follows:
Category I: Scientific excavations must be strictly limited in scope.
Category II: Scientific excavations are harmless, provided they are carried out in a sensitive way
Category III: Preliminary surveys prior to scientific excavations must clarify a listing under Categories I and II
Category IV: Scientific excavations not possible (covered by deposits)
Category V: Unsuitable for scientific exploration (not worthwhile for excavations).
Strict minimum requirements as detailed in the “Agreement on the Conduct of Paleontological Excavations in Messel Pit” must be fulfilled by any institution engaged in scientific field-research within the WH site. The agreement details the following principal aspects: licensing, scientific purpose, documentation, inventory and storage of the findings.
Category I: Scientific excavations must be strictly limited in scope.
Category II: Scientific excavations are harmless, provided they are carried out in a sensitive way
Category III: Preliminary surveys prior to scientific excavations must clarify a listing under Categories I and II
Category IV: Scientific excavations not possible (covered by deposits)
Category V: Unsuitable for scientific exploration (not worthwhile for excavations).
Strict minimum requirements as detailed in the “Agreement on the Conduct of Paleontological Excavations in Messel Pit” must be fulfilled by any institution engaged in scientific field-research within the WH site. The agreement details the following principal aspects: licensing, scientific purpose, documentation, inventory and storage of the findings.
Overlapping international designations
The site overlaps partially with the Bergstraße-Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark: the Messel Pit is situated about 14 km east of Darmstadt, in the northern part of the Bergstrasse-Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark, on the Sprendlinger Horst (Frey et al., 2021). The Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald Association (Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald e.V.) belongs to the category 'other partners' and is consulted and involved in a participatory approach in management decisions. Furthermore projects have been developed in collaboration with the Geopark e.g. courses for young people, art and nature, collaborative events eight sculptures for the Messel Pit Time garden areas, south of the Messel Pit WHS (2020-2024); COVID-19 campaign with games during lock down for home-based activities; virtual guided tour through the visitor center; authors’ lectures with kids stories about the “Fiora Eozän – Fiora Eocene” time travel crew, a comic, exclusively developed for the WHS Messel Pit (five videos in cooperation with the Geopark). Thanks to collaboration with the UNESCO Global Geopark, geopark-rangers were the first to offer tours of the Messel Pit. Due to the scientific value of this geosite, special emphasis was laid on the qualifications of the guides, who were selected based on their academic degrees in geology, geography and/or biology. They also had to have an ability and will to improve their skills in education and on geoscientific topics related to the Messel Pit (Frey et al., 2021).
Implementation of World Heritage Committee decisions and recommendations
Decisions and recommendations of the World Heritage Committee are observed, and if relevant to the site they are applied. From 2025 the Messel Pit Management Plan (2009) is going to be renewed, as recommended, and thus considering e.g. changing climate conditions.
Climate action
Monitoring of potential changes due to climate change is ongoing. The current management measures include a network of inclinometers and additional measures not only to prevent, but also to control landslides and to protect the integrity of the most valuable areas of the site.
Management plan and overall management system
The site has a management plan (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009), which identifies values, management objectives, future management outcomes and threats (e.g., tourism pressure, climate change, natural disasters). On behalf of the State of Hesse who is the landowner, the Messel Pit fossil site is operated and scientific diggings are managed by the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, while the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company manages public relations of the site, including the visitor centre, guided tours through the pit, activities for visitors and collaborates in projects with partners also in the sustainable tourism development to fulfil the UNESCO philosophy. This is regulated via contracts of the respective society/company directly with the State of Hesse (Messel Management Plan, 2009). The governance framework is clear, and the role of every partner is clearly explained and detailed so that there is no ambiguity. The governance and decision-making is open to scrutiny. Information is clearly presented in the Messel Pit Management Plan (2009). However, the document will be updated as the 2016 amendment of the Hessian Heritage Protection Act impacts the scientific excavations and new excavation guidelines were developed in 2019 (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, 2019).
Law enforcement
The site comprises a perimeter fence accessible only by authorised personnel. This fencing-off is very effective. The perimeter is kept under surveillance by foot patrols to prevent trespassing (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Researcher access to undertake excavations requires prior agreement from the Hessian State Office for Heritage Protection (LfDH).
Sustainable finance
The site management of the Messel Pit is carried out by the Messel Pit World Heritage non profit limited company. The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research is mandated by the State of Hesse to operate the Messel fossil pit and coordinate the research projects, mainly funded by the Federal Republik of Germany and the Federal State of Hesse. Within Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt is responsible for the Management of the Messel Pit with a total Federal budget of 16,713,450 euros or 1,212,500 euros for the location in Messel (2024). The operation of the visitor centre, managed by the Messel Pit World Heritage non profit limited company, opened in 2010, is financed by the State of Hesse and the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research with a grant of 909,133 euros in 2024 for the realisation of ongoing operations. Income is also generated from entrance fees and guided tours, as well as from the bistro and gift shop. The Federal State of Hesse is responsible for the structural infrastructure of the visitor centre. The municipality of Messel left the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company on December 31, 2021. The shares of it have been taken over by the Senckenberg Society.
Staff capacity, training and development
The staff numbers for the World Heritage site are adequate. The Senckenberg Institution provides five scientific researchers, one preparator and three technical assistants (Senckenberg Institution, 2020). For access and promotion, the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company provide twelve full-time equivalents and two seasonal positions (8 months). For the operation of the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company that runs also the visitor centre, a minimum of 8-10 full-time positions for the service counter (including guided tours) are in the yearly team with 65 % women being staff members (Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company, 2023). The staff receives in-house and external training for promotion, interpretation and visitor management (IUCN Consultation, 2024). The Senckenberg Institute keeps a satellite research station in Messel for scientific work and operation. The equipment and infrastructure are well maintained to guarantee the management plan. The visitor centre offers a top-quality service in the context of the management of visitors.
Education and interpretation programmes
There are several education, interpretation or awareness programmes that enhance the understanding of values of the site for all age groups and education backgrounds, with a special focus on school classes and families. Action days, special programmes for seniors and students with a presentation on World Heritage, as well as “World Heritage Officer” certificates for young people, have been realised to transmit the value of this unique site. The results have been presented on conferences and published in proceedings. The Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company manages the visitor centre including the curation of temporary exhibitions and digital education tools; a website, available in English end of spring 2025; and produces flyers (see, e.g., Frey, 2015; 2016; 2018a, b). Working meetings concerning new scientific findings on the Messel Pit are organised by Senckenberg and take place annually (Wedmann and Schaal, 2013), while large international scientific conferences are less frequent (e.g., Lehmann and Schaal, 2011). New education formats are currently being developed together with partners from different education networks in the area outside the UNESCO site, to offer a better access to the topics and saving at the same time the site from eventual damage due to tourism. There is a special focus on families, international guests and inclusion.
Tourism and visitation management
Promotion of Messel Pit is managed by the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company. It is supported by various networks: - the Global Geoparks Network; - several key partners involved in the conservation and administration of the site, which include local and regional institutions such as the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, the Messel Museum of Fossils and Local History and the Geopark Bergstrasse-Odenwald Association; - the Monument Authority of Hesse; - the Odenwald Tourism Ltd. Company; - the Darmstadt Citymarketing Ltd. Company; - the Hesse-Tourism Agency and – the network of the Deutscher Museumsbund. The Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company also manages the visitor centre, which offers temporary and permanent exhibitions of fossils, exhibits on the history of the site, volcanism, climate-change, evolution, landscape development, as well as guided tours and other activities to transmit and promote this unique site. In addition, a wide range of communication activities concerning the site are now in place (World Heritage Committee, 2013). Since 2004, the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company offers guided tours also in English and French, since 2023 also in Italian. A new web site with information in German and English has been developed stepwise and will be finalized in spring 2024. International exposure is also achieved through the scientific publications and associated press attention. Structures such as the viewing platform and the visitor centre have no impact on the conservation of the site. The number of visitors descending into Messel Pit is moderate and under strict control. Their impact on the integrity of the site is very low, as the only way to visit the site is through guided tours. Each guided tour is limited to a maximum of 50 participants; currently eight guided tours can take place simultaneously, meaning a maximum of 400 people at the time (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). Tourism is managed to support the protected area objectives and the integrity of the site.
Sustainable use
Only parts of the geological formation of oil shale containing the fossils are accessible on the surface. Most of it lies deep underground. Scientific excavations are limited to 100 m3 per annum and are currently conducted by the Senckenberg Institution and the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt. Excavations are strictly controlled by the management plan, the mining regulations of the Federal Mining Law and the Hessian Monument Protection Act, as well as the above-mentioned digging and documentation guidelines of the Hessian State Office for Monuments and Sites. The research permits are valid for a one-year excavation period. Resource use at present does not represent a threat to the conservation of the site.
Monitoring
Threats to the site’s values are constantly being monitored and management activities and decisions are adapted. For example, the stability of the slope is constantly monitored with a network of 30 inclinometers. Groundwater and rainwater are pumped away to stabilize the slopes (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009). The scientific values of the site are adequately and constantly monitored by the Senckenberg Institution, especially through annual excavations (Messel Pit Management Plan, 2009) and controlled by the Hessian State Office for Monuments and Sites.
Research
The SGN conducts maintenance and conservation work on behalf of the Federal State of Hesse according to the Agreement of 26 June 1992 on the Conduct of Palaeontological Excavations in Messel Pit between the Hessian State and Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SNG). To support operation of Messel Pit and research activities the SNG keeps a satellite research station in Messel. The management system of the site includes a specific research programme, notably through risk assessment, studies related to the values of the site, condition surveys, paleontological surveys and visitor management. In addition, the management system takes into account the result of studies and research programmes at the decision-making stage (Periodic reporting, 2006 and 2013). Scientific research is represented mainly by the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt. Many research papers have been published in international scientific journals.
Effectiveness of management system and governance in addressing threats outside the site
Currently, the protection and management are highly effective in addressing threats outside the site (illegal trespassing, illegal excavations, industrial sites surrounding the site, renaturation of the site and uncontrolled growth of the vegetation). The boundaries of the World Heritage site, including a buffer zone (22.5 ha) and a highly effective fence, effectively protects the values of the site (IUCN, 2010).
Effectiveness of management system and governance in addressing threats inside the site
The management system, already considered as highly effective at the time of inscription (State Party of Germany, 2006), has greatly improved the effective protection and management and strengthened the integrity of the site (World Heritage Committee, 2013).
The current protection and management of the site can be considered as highly effective. The management system that is now in place supports the protection of the site’s Outstanding Universal Values, contributes to building of local and regional communication networks, facilitates promotion and access to the site for visitors and provides education to improve understanding of the site’s values (especially through the visitor centre). The State of Hesse is the sole landowner of the Messel Pit Fossil Site, contributing to an effective legal framework. Tourism, public relations and scientific excavations are effectively managed by the Messel Pit World Heritage non-profit limited company and Senckenberg Society for Nature Research on behalf of the State of Hesse. However, the management plan from 2009 needs an update, also to reflect the 2016 amendment of the Hessian Heritage Protection Act and new excavation guidelines.
Good practice examples
There is a strong and effective ongoing collaboration between the World Heritage site and the overlapping Geopark with exchange in staff, joint training programmes, partnering to develop tourist attractions and implementing joint decision-making structures.
Record of the Middle Eocene environment
Good
Trend
Improving
The unique knowledge of the Middle Eocene environment provided by the Messel Pit is based on the scientific investigations conducted in and on the Messel oil shale deposits and/or the included sediments. The site is particularly significant in preserving records of various communities of aquatic, terrestrial and aerial organisms, providing a unique record of a complex ecosystem from the early Tertiary. The current state of this value is improving as the site’s management and protection system against the few threats (tourism pressure, climatic events) improved with the creation of a buffer zone and measures to stabilise the western slope. Recent significant research results also improved our knowledge of the middle Eocene environment, ecosystem, species and food web structure (e.g. Ascarrunz et al., 2024; Bartel et al., 2024; Kaboth-Bahr et al., 2024; Lenz et al., 2023; Schmitt et al., 2024).
Quality of preservation
Good
Trend
Stable
This value is based on the state of preservation of fossils unearthed from the site over the last decades. Skeletons are often complete, with the contours of soft parts and stomach contents (Mayr and Schaal, 2016; de Manzancourt et al., 2022), including a fetus (Franzen et al., 2015), and colouring conserved (e.g. McNamara et al., 2011). Stomach contents of insects have also been found (e.g. Wedmann et al., 2021a,b). The exceptional preservation of fossils will lead to new findings due to improved analysis techniques (e.g. mobile scanning macro-XRF imaging), as the recent discovery of pigment remains shows (Colleary et al., 2015; Colombo et al. 2025).
Fossils recovered are adequately curated and stored in public institutions. The preparation methodology employed (known as ‘transfer method’; State Party of Germany, 1995), preserves fossils for the near future, however, the epoxy resin base plates must be checked for signs of aging in the more distant future. Thanks to this methodology and to the preservation of the fossils in public institutions, the value is stable.
Fossils recovered are adequately curated and stored in public institutions. The preparation methodology employed (known as ‘transfer method’; State Party of Germany, 1995), preserves fossils for the near future, however, the epoxy resin base plates must be checked for signs of aging in the more distant future. Thanks to this methodology and to the preservation of the fossils in public institutions, the value is stable.
Richness and diversity of fossils
Good
Trend
Improving
Messel is known for its record of a highly diverse flora and fauna. The flora includes one the widest varieties of early Tertiary species of leaved flora with preserved cuticle structures. Within the fauna, invertebrates outnumbered vertebrates with a significant number of insects. The vertebrate fauna included 100 identified species at the time of inscription (State Party of Germany, 1995). This value is improving, with a greater richness and diversity being recorded.
To date 1409 fossil taxa have been documented (Smith et al., 2024a), including hundreds of species of insects (Wedmann, 2018; Albrecht et al., 2023) and plants (e.g., Collinson et al., 2012; Wilde, 2018; Bouchal et al., 2024) as well as 171 taxa of vertebrate body fossils (Smith et al., 2024a).
To date 1409 fossil taxa have been documented (Smith et al., 2024a), including hundreds of species of insects (Wedmann, 2018; Albrecht et al., 2023) and plants (e.g., Collinson et al., 2012; Wilde, 2018; Bouchal et al., 2024) as well as 171 taxa of vertebrate body fossils (Smith et al., 2024a).
Early evolution of mammals
Good
Trend
Improving
The Messel Pit Fossil Site records a uniquely important diversification phase of the evolution of mammals, when they experienced a rapid development and became globally predominant class of animal. The site provides a sharp insight into the early phylogeny of mammals, with 40 species having been identified at the time of site’s inscription, a number that has now increased to 51 (see Lehmann and Schaal, 2012; Franzen and Habersetzer, 2017; Smith et al,. 2018, 2024a) belonging to 13 different orders (Rose, 2012). These discoveries improve the value of the site, and especially with the advances on the history of primates (Franzen, 2011; Franzen et al., 2009, 2011; Gingerich, 2011; Hurum et al., 2011; Koenigswald et al., 2011), as well as additional knowledge on bats (Gunnell et al., 2011) and carnivores (Morlo et al., 2011).
Assessment of the current state and trend of World Heritage values
Improving
The site’s World Heritage values are associated with the fossil record of a unique Middle Eocene environment, including various communities of aquatic, terrestrial and aerial organisms. Recovered fossils are well preserved and stored in public institutions. The state of the site itself has improved with the creation of a buffer zone and the measures concerning the stabilisation of the western slopes in 2012. Significant scientific results continue to improve our knowledge about the middle Eocene environment. To date the site has contributed to an inventory of more than 50.000 fossils (e.g. incl. > 45 mammal species, > 100 plant families, ca. 50 bird species and > than 80 insect species). Our knowledge is greater now regarding taxa such as turtles, fishes, squamates and especially invertebrates. Advances in the history of primates and carnivores have contributed to the importance of the site for studying the evolution of mammals. Recent works highlight our knowledge of the trophic structure of this Eocene ecosystem and provide advances in the scope of taphonomic studies.
Additional information
Outdoor recreation and tourism
The site is already relatively important for tourism. Since 1997, a visitor observation platform with text panels about the history and developments of the site has been on site and open to the public. It is estimated that 166,000 people visited the Messel Pit viewing platform already in the first five years (1998-2003) (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Between 2004 and 2019 about 488,000 visitors experienced the Messel Pit World Heritage site through guided tours (IUCN Consultation, 2020).The number of visitors increased since 2023 but it is still on a very moderate level (2023: approx. 30,000)
Importance for research,
Contribution to education
The site is an important resource for building knowledge and for educating, through the visitor centre in place. The visitor centre welcomes a wide range of visitors and aims at, among other objectives, presenting exhibitions on evolution and geo-diversity, proposing lectures, brochures, internet access, development of a didactic approach for the mediation of the Messel Pit World Heritage site. Throughout the year, Messel Pit coordinates and offers a large number of guided tours, training of teachers and tours for schools, kindergartens and other groups. The site has developed a “Junior World Heritage Officer” offer for children during holiday times. This label was given to the German UNESCO sites to be used by all, if wished so (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Since 2018, a collaboration with the University of Frankfurt/Main exists on education at an outdoor learning site, since 2023 another cooperation started with the University of Trier. There are partnerships since 2003 with the UGGP Lesvos (Greece) plus UGGP Naturtejo (Portugal) and other partners from the European and Global Geoparks Network; since 2009 regularly with UGGP Hong Kong (China) and since 2017 also with Zhoukoudian Man WHS in the UGGP Fangshan (China) and the WHS Zigong in the UGGP Zigong since 2018 (Frey, 2018b). Research results from significant scientific studies of the Messel Pit fossil record has improved our knowledge of the middle Eocene environment and contributed to the understanding of early-stage mammal evolution and the evolutionary history of other life on Earth.
Key benefits of the World Heritage site include tourism, knowledge building and education. The Messel Pit Fossil Site has an intensive collaboration with partners in the region, Europe wide and international with UNESCO Global Geoparks (Frey, 2018b; Frey et al., 2021). Many scientific studies are going on, research is promoted.
| № | Organization | Brief description of Active Projects | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Frankfurt am Main | Investigation and reconstruction of the Eocene Lake Messel: excavation and preparation, geology, paleobiology of a wide range of taxa, X-Ray applications, Messel fossil collection and Paleoclimate. |
https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-research-institute-natural-history-museum-frankfurt/division-messel-research-mammalogy/
|
| 2 | Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Darmstadt | Investigation of the Eocene Lake Messel: excavation and preparation, focus on palaeobiology of fishes and insects, Messel fossils collection. |
https://www.hlmd.de/museum/forschung/naturgeschichte.html
|
| 3 | Das Unesco-Welterbe Grube Messel, Fachbereich Gestaltung der Hochschule Trier | A project funded by the German government (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt) will develop an innovative pedagogical and technical design approach to maximise individual knowledge transfer in the museum. This includes AI technology to test personalised and interactive learning experiences. |
https://www.hochschule-trier.de/gestaltung/campus/aktuelles/news/news-detail/hochschule-trier-und-welterbe-grube-messel-erhalten-bmbf-foerderung-fuer-innovatives-forschungsprojekt-zur-wissensvermittlung-im-museum; https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/darmstadt/grube-messel-innovatives-projekt-zur-wissensvermittlung-geplant-93224406.html
|
References
| № | References |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Albrecht, J., Wappler, T., Fritz, S. A., & Schleuning, M. (2023). Fossil leaves reveal drivers of herbivore functional diversity during the Cenozoic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 120(32): e2300514120.
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| 2 |
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