Cambrian trilobites as archives for Anthropocene biomarkers and other chemical compounds

•Cambrian (507Myr) trilobites had pervasive Anthropocene compounds.•Originally marine, these fossils had microbiota, forests and wildfire biomarkers.•Anthropogenic chemicals (e.g. plasticizers) comprised up to 96% of all compounds.•These compounds provide essential data on regional landscapes and collection bias.•Fossils may be well preserved, but their chemical makeup is chiefly Anthropocene.