Insights into the underground of Chemnitz on Geotope Day
Many people are familiar with the Chemnitz Petrified Forest. However, few people know that this is more than just the ensemble of petrified trees in Tietz.
Further parts of the Petrified Forest will be uncovered at the "Window into Earth History", the scientific excavation of the Museum of Natural History. On Geotope Day on 20.09.2026, we will once again open our excavation tent for young and old and offer all interested parties the opportunity to take part in the excavation live. Visitors can ask the excavation team questions, find out how an excavation is carried out and what is needed for it and also hear one or two funny stories from everyday excavation work. Young researchers can explore the "geological classroom" and dig for fossilized wood themselves. If that's not enough, they can explore the excavation site on their own by solving a quiz and receive a small prize if they find the correct solution.
A real treasure is hidden beneath our feet: an entire ecosystem lies buried here. It was preserved 291 million years ago by a volcanic eruption and gives us an insight into a bygone era. There was once a tropical rainforest in the area that is now Chemnitz. In it, nimble prehistoric dinosaurs climbed around on giant trees, amorous scorpions "danced" on the forest floor and small amphibians lurked for tasty insects, which they caught with their sticky tongues. We can read all this from the fossilized remains of this forest. But not all the secrets have been revealed yet.
On Geotope Day on September 20, 2026, various institutions throughout Germany will be inviting visitors to experience geological history up close with experts. Various excursion destinations can be visited - quarries, mineral sites, mines and also the excavation at the "Window into Earth History" of the Chemnitz Museum of Natural History.
The Geotope Day is an initiative of the German Geological Society - Geologische Vereinigung e. V. and has been held on the third Sunday in September since 2002. The complete program can be found at http://www.tag-des-geotops.de.
No registration required, free admission.
Location: Window into the history of the earth, Glockenstraße 16, 09130 Chemnitz
Contact: Julia Hornickel (0371 488-4557 or hornickel@naturkunde-chemnitz.de).
Notes: The event is co-financed by the European Union as part of the ESF Plus project "Window into the Earth's History" (application number: 100731465). This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament.
