The ‘Mur des douaniers’, an exceptionally well-preserved Early Eifelian fossil site

The ''Mur des douaniers'' biota at the former French/Belgian border contains a rich and diversified Lower Eifelian benthic fauna, and especially trilobites. Palaeobiodiversity and sedimentological analyses have led to the interpretation of the general palaeoenvironmental/palaeoecological context. This trilobite-rich locality is an exceptionally well-preserved Early Eifelian fossil site with regard to the regional scale. Unfortunately, its growing reputation led to fossil pillage and now this palaeontological site is protected as a Nature Reserve. From now on, no complementary observation of the palaeontological data, the taphonomic analysis, the ichnological, sedimentological and geochemical record can be made to provide a better palaeoecological synthesis.