He first Archaeopteryx fossil was discovered in 1861 near Solnhofen, Germany, in a limestone deposit famous for preserving detailed fossils from the Late Jurassic period. This initial specimen, known as the London specimen, consists of a single feather. Later that year, a more complete skeleton was found, which provided further evidence of the animal’s unique combination of dinosaur and bird-like features..
Over the years, more Archaeopteryx fossils have been discovered, with a total of 13 specimens currently known. These discoveries have contributed significantly to our understanding of the evolutionary link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds, making the Archaeopteryx one of the most important and well-studied fossils in paleontology.