Research
Uncovering Secrets from the Past
The studying of fossils is crucial for piecing together the puzzle of early life on Earth. The Ediacaran fossils found at Mistaken Point offer valuable insights into the evolution of complex multicellular organisms and the ecological relationships that existed in ancient marine ecosystems before the ‘Cambrian explosion’ of life.
As scientists continue to examine and analyze these incredibly well-preserved fossils and their geological context, we gain a deeper understanding of the early chapters of life’s history on our planet and the remarkable organisms that once inhabited Earth’s ancient seas.
As an active research site, our understanding of these exceptionally preserved lifeforms is always expanding. Meet a few of the current researchers studying out of Mistaken Point – and check out some of their research!
Dr. Alex Liu
Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
“Christine McKie Official Fellow in Natural Sciences” at Girton College, Cambridge
Area of research:
Paleobiology
Mistaken Point is … our most complete record of what life on Earth looked like in the interval between ~575-565 million years ago, a time when early animals were first attaining large size. The thousands of fossils present at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve have contributed enormously to scientific understanding of how and why early animals first evolved and then radiated into the diverse array of marine animal groups we see in the oceans today.
Dr. Emily G Mitchell
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Curator of non-insect invertebrates, Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Area of research:
Paleontology
Mistaken Point is simply the best place in the world to view the first ever animals to have existed.
Educational Resources
