preservation at its best

Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming is described as America's aquarium in stone.  A 50 million year old lake bed and one of the richest fossil localities in the world.  Recorded in limestone are dynamic and complete paleoecosystems that spanned two million years.  Preservation is so complete that it allows for detailed study of climate change and its effects on biological communities. (from nationalparks.org website)

 

Sucevita Monastery in the Moldovan region of Romania is covered in fresco paintings both inside and outside.  The paintings were done in 1601, though the church was built in 1585.  It is remarkable that these exterior paintings have survived all that weather can throw at it - wind, sun, rain, snow...