Search the Community

https://astrobiology.com/2024/02/470-million-year-old-fossil-site-from-earths-lower-ordovician-period-uncovered-in-france.html

Came accross this news shared by the NHM Maastricht, another fossil bird has been discribed from the same quarry and layer in which the famous wonderchicken "Asteriornis" was found. This being the Romontbos quarry in Eben-Emael in Belgium (near de border with Maastricht in the Netherlands) which dates to the Late Maastrichtian era (66,7 mya) Here are some links to the news articles (both in english as in dutch) as well as as video. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/30/ct-scans-toothed-bird-fossil-jaw-mobile-palate-avian-evolution https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-63809867 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04181-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03692-7 https://www.science.org/content/article/new-look-ancient-jaw-fossil-rewrites-bird-evolution Dutch article: https://www.1limburg.nl/nieuws/1890918/fossiel-van-vogel-met-tanden-ontdekt-in-sint-pietersberg

Hello all! I really hope it’s okay I post this here! It’s positive- I promise! I want to just pour my heart out about the past decade since I began my journey here in Texas. I have this forum to thank for the past year, I just want to drop a super kind thank you to anyone who has ever helped me with any fossil related thing. I’ve been through a lot, but you guys have really helped me in more ways than you know. I lost my way for about a decade because life gave me a really hard dealt hand (more like several slaps) to where I (almost) gave up until about a year ago. I’ve finally come out of my shell and am open to talk about things. Read the deets if you’d like its super not required: Ive been in a shell the past decade. I don’t know exactly when… I just started coming back here more during the pandemic and seeing all of your guys’s posts helped me regain myself more and more. I can’t thank you guys enough. It gives me hope not just in paleontology still being possible but also in finding friendship. I hope I dont sound annoying but I legit cant wait to meet you guys here in Texas out there in the field either by accident or any meetups I can attend. I also want to travel to Alberta, Canada and Dorset,England soon and Ive already saved up for one of those goals. I want to remember again and I want to learn more about the Earth and the wonderful creatures that live/lived in the seas. I also just want to find local friends who will accept me for who I am. I have new heros now my own age that are out there doing amazing and awesome things for science and it feels good to watch people’s journeys and adventures in this field- I’m dying to meet them someday. I also just love seeing people here showing off their fossil finds. Recently, someone here posted a comment to someone else on social media about how they “believe anyone can do anything if their heart is really set on a dream” (or something relevant) and that just set my inner flame in a full blaze. They weren’t speaking to me but it struck a chord because it just rang with so much truth and confidence in what they said. I really cant wait to contribute to the science in SOME way someday either as a professional or an amateur. I have a new quiet job at a bakery for now with competitive pay to save up for some travel dreams, but I hope to do volunteer work at a museum or out in the field someday so I can get hands-on experience learning about local prehistoric life. In the meantime, Im going to learn what I can and get out there outdoors again looking for fossils, enjoying nature, regaining a piece of my old self every time I do. Every time I find something it’s a very intimate feeling with the fossil animal that can’t be put into words- it’s dead but there’s still “life” to it with a story to tell and I can feel it. I also got a microscope and lovin’ the micro fossils! Just maybe I can find something significant too out here as an amateur for now that I can donate to the Heard that would be worthy enough to display! (My long term goal) I live so close to the Heard and go there often all I want to do is fill it with more prehistoric treasures to keep safe for scientific importance and to inspire more people to understand the Earth had some amazing history and amazing creatures. I love being here again. I hope this post wasn’t “too much” but thank you to all who read this far. To come out of my shell more, I uploaded a profile picture of myself! My newest ammonite find. No more hiding behind art vectors. No hair color, no makeup- just me. The only shell I bear now are ammonites… or seashells. Also my name is actually Larí (lah-ree) if you ever see me the DFW area please just say hello to me. Knowing there’s more people out in person interested in prehistoric life would bring me joy. I don’t want to give up on my Texas dreams. -Ammonite Delight aka paleopastels aka Larí Thank you guys reading today for making me smile and thank you for inspiring me.

Rare dinosaur skin fossil discovered in Alberta | Watch (msn.com)

A man is facing charges after allegedly stealing a dinosaur claw valued at $25,000 from a vendor at a gem show in Arizona, police said. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/us/arizona-stolen-dinosaur-claw/index.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/fossil-hunters-ammonite-martensville-1.6318124

https://www.livescience.com/silver-specks-in-worm-dung Evidence for microbially mediated silver enrichment in a middle Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposit, Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada As a worms, bugs, and slime researcher, I found this to be exciting.

Paleontologists have found the fossilized remains of two Jurassic dinosaur species in Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland. These are the first dinosaur remains reported from anywhere in Ireland and some of the most westerly in Europe. In related news: Oldest whiskey bottle fragments found at nearby Old Bushmills Distillery.

Just found this, but I’m not sure if it’s fully true considering the Deinonychus pack they discovered along with the Tenontosaurus. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200506123751.htm

'Traces of ancient rainforest in Antarctica point to a warmer prehistoric world' https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196516/traces-ancient-rainforest-antarctica-point-warmer/

My son got a spot on the local news feed with our tooth find.

Efforts are ramping up to have this region added to the Canadian geopark family. The UNESCO folks just finished their visit. Let's wish them all the success! Possible Nova Scotian United Nations geopark a hidden gem - Keenan

Hi guys, I’ve been pretty quiet on here for a while, so thought I would drop in and say Hi, and I have missed the forum. Its been a stressful year or so with a lot going on workwise and with family health emergencies. Its been tough to keep the dream alive of a permanent job in science. I keep getting contract research jobs that mean I constantly need to be looking towards the horizon. I only get out collecting when Im back in New Zealand which I dream of when I’m not there. I think time to move back @6ix ? Anyway, popping back here is a nice reminder of the sense of community that can exist online. Looking back at how much this site helped me to rediscover my love of “hard rock” paleontology and seriously upskill on the prep front. Thanks guys - hope to be around more often!