What is Messel pit?
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site | WHS = Messel Pit Fossil Site | image = Grube Messel, Weltnaturerbe - panoramio.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | caption = | location = [[Darmstadt-Dieburg]], [[Hesse]], [[Germany]] | criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(viii)}}(viii) | ID = 720bis | coordinates = {{coord|49.9175|N|8.7567|E|type:landmark_region:DE-HE|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | year = 1995 | extension = 2010 | area = {{convert|42|ha|sqft|abbr=on}} | buffer_zone = {{convert|22.5|ha|sqft|abbr=on}} | locmapin = Hesse#Germany | map_caption = }} [[Image:MesselShaleOutcrop081310.JPG|thumb|Outcrop of the Messel oil shale near the center of the pit.]] [[File:Kopidodon Senckenberg 2007-01.JPG|thumb|right|A fossil of the primitive mammal ''[[Kopidodon]]'', showing outline of fur]] [[File:Darwinius masillae PMO 214.214.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Darwinius]]'' showing the remarkable preservation at Messel.]] [[File:MesselShaleSplitting.JPG|thumb|Splitting the shale with a large knife to reveal fossils.]] [[File:Masillamys Senckenberg 2007-01.JPG|thumb|right|''[[Masillamys]]'' at the Senckenberg collection]] [[File:Prachtkäfer aus der Grube Messel.JPG|thumb|right|Fossil jewel beetle, still showing colour of the exoskeleton.]] [[Image:Grube messel fg02.jpg|thumb|right|Observation point]] The '''Messel Pit''' ({{lang-de|Grube Messel}}) is a disused [[quarry]] near the village of [[Messel]], [[Hesse]]. The site about 35&nbsp;km southeast of [[Frankfurt am Main]], [[Germany]]. It is a site where fine [[fossil]]s are preserved: a [[lagerstätte]]. The site is very important: it includes fossils of early [[mammals]], including early [[primates]]. Because of its [[fossil]]s, the site has significant [[geology|geological]] and scientific importance. Bituminous [[shale]] was mined there.<ref>Bitumenous: shale with [[coal]], [[clay]] and [[oil]].</ref> After almost becoming a landfill, strong local resistance eventually stopped those plans. The Messel pit was