50 Million Year Old Fossil Arrives At Liverpool Museum

A fossilised palm leaf which is 50 MILLION years old is the latest addition to the collection at World Museum Liverpool.

The leaf, which is over 2 metres long, was found in a quarry in Wyoming, USA.

© National Museums Liverpool

Here are Alan Bowden, Wendy Simkiss and Wendy Atkinson examining the fossil at World Museum Liverpool.

© National Museums Liverpool

The fossil shows us that 50 million years ago Wyoming used to be jungle - a hot, wet climate with lush and exotic vegetation on the edge of several large lakes.

So how did it change from a green palm leaf like this one into a beautiful fossil?

© Luc Sesselle

The huge leaf, lying at the bottom of a lake, was covered in layers of mud over millions of years.

The mud covering the leaf helped to protect and preserve its shape. Over time the lake dried up, the mud hardened into rock and the leaf fossilised.

Wyoming today has a very different climate.

There is high mountain desert, with long snowy winters, and temperatures frequently go below freezing!

© Tonya Christner

You can find out loads more about fossils on the Oxford University Museum of Natural History's fab Fossils Page.

The fossil isn't on display yet. It should be soon though - we'll keep you posted!