An exceptional museum-quality mortality plate featuring sixteen remarkably preserved starfish (Geocoma carinata) from the world-famous Solnhofen Limestone deposits of Bavaria, Germany.
Excavated without any breakage, these starfish specimens date to the Late Jurassic, approximately 163.5–145 million years ago, a period when warm, shallow seas covered much of Europe.
This remarkable fossil slab preserves a rare mass mortality event from the Jurassic seas of Solnhofen, Germany. Around 150 million years ago, a sudden storm or drop in oxygen swept through a shallow lagoon, instantly killing a colony of starfish. They settled gently onto fine lime mud, where lack of oxygen prevented decay or scavenging.
Over time, layers of sediment sealed them in place, preserving every delicate detail in limestone. The result is this stunning, natural memorial plate of 16 Geocoma carinata, capturing the exact moment they were fossilized together — a true snapshot of ancient ocean life, and the closest thing you can get to a 150 million year old photograph.
Each Geocoma fossil displays exquisite five-armed symmetry, fine ossicle structure, and delicate arm articulation, showcasing the unparalleled fossilization that made the Solnhofen strata one of the most celebrated fossil beds on Earth.
Specimen: Mortality plate with at least 16 starfish.
Scientific name: Geocoma carinata
Origin: Solnhofen Formation, Bavaria, Germany
Provenance: Once part of an old European private collection.
Geological Period: Jurassic, Upper (163.5 – 145 million years ago)
Condition: Natural — professionally conserved, no breaks, glue, cracks or reconstruction.
Treatment: Stabilized and conserved for long-term preservation
Dimensions: 26.5 cm (H) × 18 cm (W) × 1.7 cm (D)
Weight: approx 1.3kg
Significance-
The Geocoma carinata starfish is among the most sought-after echinoderm fossils due to its rarity and beauty. Complete, multi-specimen slabs of this calibre seldom appear on the open market, making this a museum-worthy centrepiece for any advanced fossil collection, museum or natural history expert.
Investment & Display
Solnhofen fossils of this quality and completeness have continued to appreciate in value, prized by museums and collectors alike for their rarity, scientific importance, and aesthetic beauty. This many individual fossils on one plate is exceedingly rare.
