The Zagaje Formation is a Latest Triassic-Early Jurassic Epoch (Rhaetian-Sinemurian) geologic formation located mostly in Poland with layers also exposed in north Germany. This unit is known for its diverse Ichnofossil assemblages, with traces of invertebrates along vertebrate footprints, as well plants, large coal accumulations, invertebrate remains and ichnofossils. The Zagaje Formation correlates with The lower part of the Höganäs Formation in Scania, as well the Munkerup Member and the Gassum Formation in Denmark.

The Zagaje Formation is particularly visible in the Sołtyków region and is made mostly of Early Jurassic continental mudstone-sandstone deposits linked to the onset of "depositional sequence I". Its age is confirmed as mostly Early Hettangian through stratigraphic and paleontological analyses, including fossil flora and conchostraca findings. Sedimentological studies divide the Sołtyków profile into three parts: ephemeral reservoir deposits, floodplain and lacustrine sediments, and river channel deposits, highlighting dynamic depositional environments influenced by tectonic subsidence and varying hydrological conditions.

Climate wise, the area was located back in the Hettangian around 45°N paleolatitude in Laurasia within a rise of 5–10°C above present, were it experienced significant climatic and environmental change related with sea-level fluctuations, manifested locally with a notorious retrogradational fluvial-lacustrine sedimentation, with evidence of a humid climate interspersed with drier seasons. Some plant fossils like Hirmeriella mark points of aridity on what was mostly a humid swampy alluvial-lacustrine habitat.

The Zagaje Formation’s deposits are know from both outcrops and borehole profiles that consist primarily of sandstones, mudstones, and interspersed coal and siderite layers. It represents a stratigraphic gap with the underlying Upper Triassic formations and is capped by a transgressive contact with the Skłoby Formation. This unit contains freshwater fauna and diverse trace fossils, including vertebrate tracks. The paleoenvironment reflects a dynamic alluvial plain shaped predominantly by high-sinuosity stream processes, transitioning from earlier braided and low-sinuosity stream systems. This evolution is attributed to climatic changes, rising base levels, and decreasing geomorphological gradients. Observations, both from exposures and borehole data, highlight the dominance of avulsion processes, with several depositional subsystems identified. Facies with organic remains are diverse: riverbed biofacies, derived from meandering channels characterized by fining-upward sequences composed of channel lag deposits, point-bar sands, and finer overlying sediments. These deposits exhibit lateral accretion bedding and significant fossil bivalves and large-sized floated plant remains (stems and trunks of large plants) consistent with subaqueous dune migration within the channels; levee deposits derived from successive floods with scarce root traces, while plant remnants are common; Paleosoils with sparse traces of plant roots and remains of floating plants of highly variable size (mainly organic detritus, but also fragments of wood), fragments of bivalve shells and vertebrate remains (amniote bones, tracks, fish scales); the biofacies of the ephemeral water reservoir with plant remains, mainly horsetails, and fossils of insects, ostracods, and conchostraca; The pedogenic soil biofacies with remains of plant roots with preserved organic matter and rhizomes and stems in a living position; Floodplain biofacies with traces of numerous plant roots and plant macroremains, and remains of sedge stems preserved in a living position; Lake-marsh biofacies, dark, laminated mudstones with plant roots and coal, with few fossil bivalves, a large amount of organic matter in the form of plant detritus, and layers of coal and numerous finds of miospores and megaspores. The local presence of charcoal fragments and high concentrations of PAHs, along with possible burnt plants, provides evidence for wildfires in the region, that likely occurred near the surface with charred wood fragments were subsequently incorporated into sediments by river transport.

The high presence of coprolites has allow also to stablish the tropic chain of the local biota, with a clear full ecosystemical substitution of the older Triassic archosaurs by Dinosaurs.

Several unname Ichnofossils are recovered at Soltyków, including conical domichnia (Conichnus?), bivalve straight to winding linear trails, smooth vertical and subvertical branching tunnels, knob-walled tunnels, mace-shaped or irregular ellipsoid chambers, etc.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Made By
Cruziana	C. problematica cf.C. isp	Soltyków	Dwelling structures	Annelids Insect larvae Nematodes
Cochlichnus	C. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Traces	Annelids Insect larvae Nematodes
Conichnus	C. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Subcylindrical burrows	Annelids Nematodes Crustaceans
Diplichnites	D. isp.	Soltyków	Hypichnial trackway	Insects Myriapods Arachnids
Diplocraterion	D. parallelum	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	U-Shaped Burrows	Crustaceans Annelids Poronidans Insects Fish
Imbrichnus	I. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Burrows	Annelids Bivalves Crustaceans
Kouphichnium	cf. K. isp.	Soltyków	V-shaped hypichnial marks	Xiphosura Malacostraca
Palaeophycus	P. isp.	Soltyków	Straight or slightly curved burrows	Annelids Bivalves Crustaceans
Planolites	P. isp.	Soltyków	Horizontal burrows	Annelids Bivalves Crustaceans
Rusophycus	R. isp.	Soltyków	Resting Traces	Resting traces of arthropods
Scolicia	S. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Moving Traces	Locomotion trace of gastropods
Scoyenia	S. isp.	Soltyków	Linear slender burrows	Beetles?
Skolithos	S. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Sac/Bottle shaped burrows	Annelids Crustaceans Insects
Spongeliomorpha	S. carlsbergi S. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Sac/Bottle shaped burrows	Annelids Crustaceans Insects

Indeterminate gastropod egg capsules are know, similar to the ones recovered in the extant Neritina. 4 unnamed morphotypes of freshwater bivalves of the family Unionidae are know.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Anodonta	A. liasokeuperina	Soltyków	Isolated Shells	A freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae
Calceoformites	C. uchmani	Soltyków	Clog-shaped protrusions	Bivalve estabilization traces
Cardinia	C. follini C. inglensis C. cf.kullensis	Gromadzice Odrowaz Podole Soltyków	Isolated Shells	A Carditidae Bivalve. Indicator of oligohaline settings and found also on the younger Skłoby Formation
Lockeia	L. siliquaria L. amygdaloides L. czarnockii	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Dwelling traces	Resting traces of Bivalves
Ptychoplasma	P. conica	Soltyków	Locomotion trace	Gastropod Locomotion traces
Scalichnus	S. phiale S. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Sac/Bottle shaped burrows	Escape structure of mud-dwelling bivalves
Scolicia	S. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Traces	Locomotion and feeding trace of gastropods
Unio	U. minutus	Soltyków	Isolated Shells	A freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae
Viviparus	V. spp.	Soltyków	Isolated Shells	A freshwater snail, member of the family Viviparidae

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Bulbilimnadia	B. kilianorum	Hucisko Soltyków	Valves	A freshwater Ostracodan of the family Bulbilimnadiidae
Darwinula	D. sarytirmenensis D. spp.	Gromadzice Hucisko Odrowaz Soltyków	Valves	A freshwater Ostracodan of the family Darwinulidae
Euestheria	E. opalina E. loczyi E. brodieana E. minuta Euestheria sp.	Gromadzice Hucisko Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Valves	A Freshwater Clam shrimp (Phyllopodan) of the family Lioestheriidae.
Isopodichnus	I. isp.	Gromadzice Kontrewers Odrowaz Soltyków	Hypichnial marks	Feeding and moving traces of phyllopod and notostracan crustaceans

Radial chambers around large tunnels have been recovered, they may be arthropod burrows or traces of roots. Large nest structures with septa, similar to nesting behaviour of insects like Cicadas are know.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Artematopodites	A. ssp.	Odrowaz	MPK 5/36, 39, 40	A Coleopteran, member of the family Permosynidae
Blattodea	Indeterminate	Odrowaz	MPK 5/54	Indeterminate Blattodean remains
Blattulidae	Indeterminate	Odrowaz	MPK 5/1	Indeterminate Cockroach remains
Caraboidea	Indeterminate	Odrowaz	MPK 5/12, 15	Indeterminate Beetle remains
Coleoptera	Indeterminate	Odrowaz	Isolated Wings	Indeterminate Beetle remains
Helminthoidichnites	cf. H. isp.	Sołtyków	Gnawing traces	surficial gnawing traces made by insects
Hydrobiites	H. sp.	Odrowaz	MPK 5/10, 13, 17, 22, 25, 33	A Coleopteran, member of the family Permosynidae
Linckichnus	L. terebrans	Sołtyków	Boring Traces	Detritivorous habitation dwellings or oviposition structures of insects in dead wood
Memptus	M. sp.	Odrowaz	MPK 5/44	A Coleopteran, Incertade sedis
Notocupes	N. sp.	Odrowaz	MPK 5/6	A Coleopteran, Incertade sedis
Odrowazicoris	O. polonicus	Odrowaz	MPK 5/2	An Hemipteran, member of the family Belostomatidae
Polysitum	P.? sp.	Odrowaz	MPK 5/14, 29	A Coleopteran, Incertade sedis
Phoroschizidae	Indeterminate	Odrowaz	MPK 5/4,5, 8, 20, 35	Indeterminate Beetle remains
Xylonichnus	Cf.X. isp.	Sołtyków	Boring Traces	Borings in the wood made probably by insect larvae

Unidentified Actinopterygian fish scales and teeth were collected from clayish, organic-rich lake deposits, while some coprolites have been referred to Hybodontiform sharks.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Semionotus	S. cf. bergeri	Czarniecka Góra	Single specimen	A Semionotiform bony fish of the family Semionotidae
Paleoniscidae	Indeterminate	Sołtyków	Scales & Teeth	Indeterminate Palaeonisciformes specimens

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Chelonipus	C. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Turtle Tracks
Testudinata	Indeterminate	Sołtyków	Carapace Fragments	Unidentified Turtle remains, quoted to belong to a large sized taxon

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Ameghinichnus	Cf.A. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Small Synapsid tracks, likely from Mammaliaformes
Brasilichnium	B. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Small Synapsid tracks, likely from Mammaliaformes
Dicynodontipus	D. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks referred to Eucynodonts, maybe Tritylodontidae
Therapsipus	Cf.T. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks referred to Eucynodonts

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Rhynchosauroides	R. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks referable to both Sphenodontidae and Lepidosauromorpha

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Batrachopus	B. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Crocodrylomorph Tracks, likely of terrestrial taxa
Crocodylomorpha	Indeterminate	Sołtyków	Bones inside a large bromalite	An Indeterminate Crocodrylomorph, likely preyed on by a large Theropod
Crocodylomorpha	Indeterminate	Sołtyków	Footprints	Unnamed 3rd type of Footprint
Malutitetrapodiscus	Cf.M. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Probably left by small terrestrial crocodylomorphs

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Pteraichnus	cf. P. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Pterosaur Tracks, the individuals that left them probably had a wingspan of about 30-40 cm

Some elliptical "post-egg" structures egshells & eggs with embryo remains have been referred to theropods, yet may also belong to Ornithischians.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Anchisauripus	A. ispp. Cf.A. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Adscribed to smal slender primitive predatory dinosaurs, related with genera such as Coelophysis
Eubrontes	E. isp. Cf.E. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Eubrontes is related to the Genus Dilophosaurus, representing a basal Neotheropods
Grallator	G. ispp. Cf.G. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Similar pes with Coelophysidae-alike dinosaurs, related with neotheropods such as Dracoraptor.
Kayentapus	K. soltykovensis K. ispp. Cf.K. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Assumed to come from Genera similar to Sarcosaurus
Megalosauripus	Cf.M. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Large bodied taxa, maybe related with Sinosaurus. Among the largest early Jurassic theropod tracks worldwide.
Plesiornis	cf. P. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Theropod Tracks from small sized taxa with convergent features with latter Avians
Stenonyx	Cf.S. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Small Theropod tracks, likely from juveniles of larger taxa
Theropoda	Indeterminate	Hucisko Sołtyków	Teeth Isolated Bones Bromalites	Some coprolites, referred to Theropods include plant material, probably ingested acidentally by drinking water. Others include large bone remains or fish scales. Teeth corroborate the presence of large taxa in the area.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Kalosauropus	K. pollex	Gromadzice	Footprints	Tracks referred to early quadrupedal or semibipedal sauropodomorphs
Megaloolithidae?	Indeterminate	Sołtyków	Eggshells, eggs with embryo remains & spherical "post-egg" structures	Nesting structures & associated eggs referred to sauropods
Otozoum	Cf.O. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks referred to early quadrupedal or semibipedal sauropodomorphs
Parabrontopodus	P. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Sauropod tracks, usually referred to taxa similar to Vulcanodon
Sauropodomorpha	Indeterminate	Hucisko	Isolated bones Bromalites	Indeterminate Sauropodomorph bones
Tetrasauropus	Cf.T. isp	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks referred to early quadrupedal or semibipedal sauropodomorphs

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Anomoepus	A. scambus A. ispp. Cf.A. isp.	Sołtyków Gromadzice	Footprints	Tracks that resemble the feet of "Stormbergia" and various Genasauria of different sizes
Delatorrichnus	D. isp.	Sołtyków	Footprints	Tracks usually referred to Heterodontosauridae or similar taxa
Moyenisauropus	M. karaszevskii M. isp. Cf.M. isp.	Kontrewers	Footprints	Tracks adscribed to basal Thyreophora, vinculated with genera such as Scelidosaurus

In Palynology, the Zagaje Formation belongs to the Nathorstisporites hopliticus assemblage (Isoetales), indicating a spike in marshland and lacustrine settings. The Sołtyków outcrop is dominated by Classopollis (Cheirolepidiaceae), Aratrisporites (Cycadidae), Concavisporites (Dipteridaceae) and Cyathidites (Cyatheaceae).

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aciphyllum	A. triangulatum	Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities with Pinaceae inside Pinales. The oldest record of a Pinus-like needle in the fossil record
Brachyphyllum	B. sp.	Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae or Araucariaceae inside Pinales
Caytonia	C. sp.	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Reproductive structure	Affinities with Caytoniaceae in the Caytoniales
Czekanowskia	C. sp.	Hucisko	Branched Shoots	Affinities with the Czekanowskiales inside Ginkgoopsida. This Genus is related with relatively drier-cooler conditions.
Desmiophyllum	D. harrisii	Sołtyków	Cuticles	A possible Conifer leaf, recent finds of it associated with the cone genera Sphaerostrobus and Ourostrobus points to a coniferophyte affinity, maybe as a member of Palissyaceae.
Dictyophyllum	D. sp.	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Pinnae	Affinities with Dipteridaceae inside Gleicheniales.
Goepertella	G. microloba	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Pinnae	Affinities with Dipteridaceae inside Gleicheniales
Hirmeriella	H. muensteri	Hucisko Odrowąż	Branched Shoots and reproductive cones	Affinities with the Cheirolepidiaceae inside Pinales.
Komlopteris	K. distinctiva	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities Corystospermaceae inside Corystospermales.
Matonia	M. braunii	Niekłań PGI-1	Pinnae	Affinities with Matoniaceae inside Gleicheniales
Neocalamites	N. lehmannianus	Sołtyków	Stems	Affinities with Calamitaceae inside Equisetopsida. A common horsetail on the Liassic of Europe.
Nilssonia	N. sp.	Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities with Cycadeoidaceae in the Bennettitales or alternatively a member of Nilssoniales
Odrolepis	O. liassica	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Complete Plants	Affinities with Lycopodiales
Otozamites	O. brevifolius	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Leaflets	Affinities with Williamsoniaceae in the Bennettitales.
Pachypteris	P. lanceolata P. papillosa	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Pinnae	Affinities Corystospermaceae inside Corystospermales.
Paracycas	P. minuta	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Leaflets	Affinities with Cycadales in the Cycadopsida.
Piroconites	P. kuespertii	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Reproductive structure	Affinities with Gnetales, maybe with Welwitschiaceae
Phlebopteris	P. angustiloba	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities with Matoniaceae in the Gleicheniales.
Podozamites	P. cf. schenkii  P. sp. Cf. P. sp.	Sołtyków	Branched shoots	Affinities with Krassiloviaceae inside Voltziales
Pseudotorellia	Cf.P. sp.	Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities with the Pseudotorelliaceae inside Ginkgoopsida.
Pterophyllum	P. sp. Cf.P. sp.	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Leaflets	Affinities with Williamsoniaceae in the Bennettitales.
Ptilozamites	P. cycadea	Sołtyków	Cuticles	Affinities Corystospermaceae inside Corystospermales.
Sagenopteris	S. nilssoniana	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Leaves	Affinities with Caytoniaceae in the Caytoniales
Schmeissneria	S. microstachys	Odrowąż Sołtyków	Reproductive structure	Affinities with Ginkgoopsida or with Angiosperm-convergent Gimnosperms
Swedenborgia	S. sp.	Sołtyków	Branched Shoots	Affinities with Krassiloviaceae inside Voltziales.
Thaumatopteris	T. brauniana	Hucisko Odrowąż	Pinnae	Affinities with Dipteridaceae inside Gleicheniales
Todites	T. princeps	Hucisko Odrowąż	Pinnae	Affinities with Osmundaceae in the Osmundales.

• List of stratigraphic units with indeterminate ornithischian tracks

• Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; Osmólska, Halszka (2004), The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 1–880, ISBN 0-520-24209-2, retrieved 2019-02-21