Fossildude19 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 So, I spent some of last week's vacation fossil hunting, while in Upstate New York. I was able to hit 4 different hunting localities, (reports to follow when I get some pics of my finds!) and, as a bonus, take a side trip to the Gilboa Museum. The Gilboa Museum in Gilboa, New York showcases some fossilized trees that were uncovered during Dam construction in the late 1800's, and is known world wide as the first discovered Devonian aged forest! The Museum is a tiny building, with some fossils outside, and down the street next to the Gilboa Post Office, some fossils inside (representative of fossils found in the area) and some history of the Town of Gilboa, that actually was covered over by the Scoharie Reservoir when they built the dam. We enjoyed the Museum, where we watched an 8 minute film about the fossil forest discovery. They have a neat little gift shop, and lots of interesting things for the all. Their website: http://www.gilboafossils.org/ (PS... There is a nominal donation fee ($1.00) to enter the Museum. Well worth the price of admission!) Hope you enjoy the photos. Fossil plate outside the Museum, Mucrospirifer mucronatus (They don't allow photography inside! ) The stumps of Eospermatopteris (Wattezia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattieza) Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 13, 2010 Author Share Posted July 13, 2010 More Pics Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 I love the story of the 2007 discovery that put the tops and trunks of those trees together; the Wiki article touches on it. Thanks for posting this and the pics! 1 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RomanK Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Hi Tim, thanks for the pictures. 1 Roman http://s1143.photobu.../donbassfossil/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Tim..... Great photos..... Its a credit to the people who took the time to record and display this material in a way everyone can enjoy..... Very often these things just get buried again..... 1 Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 (edited) Auspex: You're Welcome! I was happy to do it,... had a great time looking at the fossils, and reading/researching the story behind the discoveries. Apparently, they also found spider spinneret fossils and Trigontarbid fossils nearby, when excavating for Power Authority construction. The place was a wonderland of life, and that it was captured and preserved is amazing. A very interesting and important site! Roman: My pleasure! I hunted for fossils in the surrounding area, (Scoharie Creek) found some interesting plant fossils. I will post that report shortly! Steve: The town of Gilboa is very proud of their heritage, and when they realized they were shipping all of the fossils around the country to different museums, they put their foot down, and with the help of the New York State Museum, were able to create the display that still exists there today! It is a credit to them that they saved a bit of their heritage! Regards, Edited July 14, 2010 by Fossildude19 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 I've got to get up there to see that! Thanks for the pics, great reporting. 1 -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 (edited) Dave, Thanks for the remarks. I highly recommend it. And if you get a chance while you're there, try to hunt the Scoharie Creek. Cool stuff to be found - I'll try to post that trip tonight after getting some more pics of my finds! Regards, Post Script - Found this when doing research - more in depth information on the Gilboa Fossils: http://mysite.verizon.net/james.s.boyer/Boyer-Thesis.htm Edited July 14, 2010 by Fossildude19 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Hi Tim, enjoyed the post about the plant material. thanks for sharing! That "little" block of brachs aint too shabby either! Regards, Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Yes, I'm glad the town was able to find a way to show off the scientific significance of the area (even a tiny building is the result of people who worked hard to find some space and took what they could get). These days even big city museums are struggling and some smaller ones have closed over the past several years. If I'm ever anywhere near that museum, I will pay a visit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 15, 2010 Author Share Posted July 15, 2010 (edited) Hi, Chris - Thanks - glad you enjoyed it. I thought there would be some who would. Siteseer - Yeah,...in this economy everyone has a tough go of it. As it is, the Gilboa Museum is only open on Saturdays and Sundays,... 12-4:30, From July to September. But it was well worth going to see. I think that the plants get overlooked sometimes, as they are not as dramatic as the Vertebrates, but they are just as important, if not more so, as they add clarity to the thinking of where the animals lived, and what the climate and ecosystems were like. Thanks for the comments! Edited July 15, 2010 by Fossildude19 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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