In 1861, a single feather found in a limestone quarry became the fossil that bridged the gap between dinosaurs and birds

In 1861, a Bavarian quarry yielded a fossilised feather, soon followed by the Archaeopteryx skeleton, a creature with bird and dinosaur traits. This “ancient wing” became a pivotal piece of evidence for evolution, proving birds descended from dinosaurs. Modern science continues to analyse its pigments, revealing details about its appearance and flight capabilities.