Besides the actual specimens of the Archaeopteryx lithographica, many fossil feathers have been found. One of the first was discovered in 1860 near Solnhofen and described in 1861. It was also a surprise to scientists, not because it was old, but because of the feather’s exquisite detail. So far, researchers believe that the Archaeopteryx had feathers almost all over its body, except the upper neck and head. This may be because the feathers were not easily preserved in the fossil, or there was some physical reason for the absence of feathers on specific parts of the body.