Author name: Laurane Fogret

Stromatolites represent some of the oldest and most persistent records of life on Earth. These organo-sedimentary structures have formed through complex interactions between microorganisms and their environment for nearly 3.5 billion years. Here, we trace the evolving scientific narrative surrounding these structures, from their early 19th-century descriptions to their integration into the broader concept of microbialites. This journey reflects a profound conceptual shift: once classified as distinct fossil species, stromato- lites are now understood as mineralising ecosystems and dynamic biogeochem- ical archives. This modern perspective allows for the reconstruction of early life and its environment while highlighting key scientific challenges, such as disentangling microbial from environmental controls and interpreting bioge- nicity in ancient terrestrial and extra-terrestrial rocks.