The earliest known bird, is represented by only six specimens on limestone slabs found in Bavaria, Germany. The quarry operation is principley for lithographic printing and building materials.
Workmen often discover fossils while splitting the stone.
Formed originally by marine deposits, fish and other sea life are most often discovered, however, many pterosaurs , lizard-like reptiles, a tiny dinosaur and six fossil birds have been found through out the years. These earliest known birds are not considered to be on the main line of avian evolution, but on a specialized sideline. The story begins with the discovery of a single feather in 1861, proving birds existed during Jurassic times. Just a few months later, an entire skeleton was found, surprising scientists with a beak full of socketed teeth. It also had a long bony tail and three sharply clawed wing-fingers.