Laser-stimulated fluorescence reveals unseen details in fossils from the Solnhofen Limestone (Upper Jurassic, Bavaria, Germany)

Abstract

Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF) has seen increased use in palaeontological investigations in recent years. The method uses the high flux of laser light to reveal details sometimes missed by ultraviolet (UV) and optical wavelengths. In this study, we compare the results of LSF with UV on a range of fossils from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone Konservat-Lagerstätte of Bavaria, Germany. The methodology follows previous protocols with modifications made to enhance laser beam intensity. Our experiments show the value of LSF in revealing shallow subsurface detail of specimens, previously not widely applied to Solnhofen fossils. In particular, fossil decapods from the Solnhofen Limestone reveal full body outlines, even under the matrix, along with details of segmentation within the appendages such as limbs and antennae. The results indicate that LSF can be used on both vertebrate and invertebrate fossils and may surpass the information provided by traditional UV methods in some specimens.