The Cambrian in Wisconsin, US

Paleontology and geology

In the Cambrian, Wisconsin lay near the equator. The state had a tropical climate and was covered by a shallow sea, teeming with diverse life forms. Fine-grained sediments eroding from adjacent landmasses settled on the sea floor. The deposits of sandstone and shale preserve the remains and traces of intriguing ancient sea life such as Dikelocephalus and thin-shelled brachiopods. Rare fossils of soft bodied animals, preserved in tranquil intertidal and lagoonal environments, can be found today at the remarkable Krukowski Quarry in central Wisconsin. Studying Wisconsin’s Cambrian fossil record reveals many mysteries of early evolution, ancient ancestors, and bizarre experimental life forms that left no living descendants.