The Solnhofen Wyvern

THE SOLNHOFEN WYVERN
The stone quarries of the Solnhofen region in Germany have been mined for many centuries, as the slate-like sandstone rock provides excellent building material. They are also rich in fossils, a fine example being the exquisite remains of “Archaeopteryx” believed to be the missing link between dinosaurs and birds. It is however pre-dated by an even more extraordinary find which occurred in 1299...

“ ..a large stone of great girth and weight was brought before the head mason. It was split by hammer and chisel whereupon a most noxious vapour did issue from within. So too was heard a most dire screeching . Of a sudden, the stone was blasted asunder and a woeful Beast, like unto a Hellish Dragon, with vast wings and terrible eye did charge forth. Several laymen were consumed by the Beast, and the others fled with their lives, before the Demon took to the air in a flight and was lost against the setting of the sun…”