Amtjärnsbrottet – fossils and geology near Rättvik

Amtjärnsbrottet, located just outside Rättvik, is a remarkable excursion where you can step straight into Earth’s ancient history. This former open-pit quarry forms a deep basin surrounded by steep rock walls in shades of purple and green – walls filled with visible fossils from a time when the area was covered by sea.

Here you can clearly see countless small white limestone tubes and stems, fossil remains of crinoids (sea lilies), along with traces of brachiopods and trilobites. The site is often described as a “mass grave” from the Silurian period, around 400 million years ago, when a warm, shallow sea covered much of what is now Sweden.

Originally, the fossil-rich limestone layers were deposited horizontally on the seabed. However, when a massive meteorite struck the area around 380 million years ago, forming the Siljan Ring, these layers were tilted and pushed upright. At Amtjärnsbrottet, these dramatic geological movements are clearly visible, making the site especially interesting for both casual visitors and geology enthusiasts.

During the 19th century, local farmers quarried limestone here for agricultural purposes. From the 1920s onwards, the limestone was also used for brick production, and remnants of old lime kilns can still be seen. On the way to the quarry, you will also pass steep walls of alum shale, a black, oil-rich rock once used as fuel.

The surrounding forest has high ecological value as well. The moist, lime-rich environment supports rare plants and fungi, including several species of orchids, making Amtjärnsbrottet an equally rewarding destination for nature lovers.