Limestone

Many people already know that fossils are found in sedimentary rocks. But have you ever heard of a rock that is itself made out of fossils? Formed from the shells of creatures that lived in the ocean many millions of years ago, limestone is one such rock. Bright, light, and durable, limestone has the kind of beauty and strength that make it a perfect building stone, a fact that wasn’t lost on our distant ancestors. It was especially prized in ancient Greece, and the ancient Egyptians used it to create their iconic pyramids and Great Sphynx. Then the ancient Romans created their famously useful concrete out of it. Not only is limestone a rock that was used by our ancestors to create many of our most treasured ancient monuments, but it is itself formed from even more ancient creatures. One way or another, this rock wants you to look into some ancient history of your own: You just might find the answers you seek deep in the long-forgotten past.