The Ediacaran fossils of eastern Newfoundland are critical to our understanding of the earliest complex macroorganisms. It is widely accepted that the complex fractal-like organisms of this Avalon Assemblage went extinct before 560 million years ago, to be succeeded by other early animal groups (and extinctions!) before the Cambrian Explosion 538 million years ago.

Research at the Inner Meadow fossil site is improving our understanding of extinction in the Ediacaran. This presentation will reveal the full diversity and stunning preservation quality of fossils at the site, its importance on our understanding of evolution/extinction in the Ediacaran, and explore plans for its conservation and protection.

Replicas of many of the fossils seen at Inner Meadow will be on display after the talk.