Re: Lagerstatten (was: FW: Help with Cladistics)

[pwillis@ozemail.com.au (Paul Willis)]

>In a message dated 95-09-05 20:18:09 EDT, swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM (Stan
>Friesen) writes:
>
>>A Lagerstatten is a site of unusually detailed fossil preservation,
>>especially of soft parts.  The Solnhofen Limestone is one such.
>>The Burgess Shale is another.
>>
>>
>
>The word is Lagerstatt (nominative singular) and Lagerstaette (nominative
>plural--the "ae" should be written "a-umlaut" but that's not a standard
>character and won't transmit through the Internet). In ordinary German it
>connotes a resting-place, a couch, a bed, lodging, or an encampment. Apply
>this concept to a "bed" of fossils for the paleo meaning.
>
>G.O.

The ordinary German meaning of Lagerstatte is "resting-place" according to
my German-English dictionary but in _Wonderful Life_ SJG states that, in
the context of fossil deposits, it literally translates to "Mother-Lode".
Comments anyone?

Cheers, Paul

pwillis@ozemail.com.au