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As some might have read in a previous topic, I went to visit my girlfriend in Finland. Unfortunatly Finland must be one of the worst places to find fossils in the world, I did manage to find some quartz vains and a few pieces that may or may not be amber (have to do the hot needle test on them first) Even urban fossil hunting is near impossible as pretty much all buildings are made from the fossil-lacking stones that can be found in Finland. The only urban fossils I found was in the Burger King in the Helsinki Central Station, the floor was littered with orthocones there. But Finland really isn't a good place to hunt fossils. But one thing that definitly is a worth a visit is the Finnish Museum of Natural History! It isn't a really big museum, the collection isn't that big, but the way it is presented is very awesome! One of the few musea that nails being modern and educative at the same time without overdoing it. Especially the Taxidermy diorama's were done amazingly. But I will ofcourse start this topic with what I think will interest you guys the most, the Paleontology part of the museum. A mural with Pikaia, Opabinia & Hallucigenia models Trilobites, most of which were found in Aland (Finland), Gotland (Sweden) and other neighboring countries of Finland Trilobites, most of which were found in Aland (Finland), Gotland (Sweden) and other neighboring countries of Finland Orthocone models Graptolites Eurypterid found in Saarermaa in Estonia (Silurian age) Eurypterid model Giant orthocone model

Hello everyone, I am an undergraduate student in Natural Sciences, studying in Rome, Italy at "La Sapienza" University. I am mostly interested in Vertebrate Paleontology, though I am attending a course on Micropaleontology. Unfortunately in Italy is not possible to dig for fossils as a private, and to open a dig site is hard due to Italian bureaucracy and laws. The only way to own some fossils in my country is to buy them, from people who tool them in other nations. I hope this will be an interesting experience, I am willing to know new people and new fossils. -Francesco

David C. Kopaska-Merkel and others, 2016, Cretaceous Stratigraphy and Paleontology of West-Central Alabama: A guidebook. Black Belt Museum. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312232486_CRETACEOUS_STRATIGRAPHY_AND_PALEONTOLOGY_OF_WEST-CENTRAL_ALABAMA_A_GUIDEBOOK Yours, Paul H.

Hi everyone! I am very passionate about paleontology ever since I was young! And because I am not offered to study this course in my country, I am planning on self-studying and doing my own research. However, the problem is that I have absolutely no idea where to start! I would want to start right at the bottom, with the basics. So that when I move on and learn more about it, I will not be confused by terms or explanations. So should I start with the geological timescale? Or with geology and plate tectonics? Some tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi all , my name is Brent , I am no expert in paleontology but recently found myself more and more curious about fossils, especially with having great fossil locations in south Africa and I just want to learn some more about something I find really cool... like a capsule back into time if you will . I would love to be able to go out for a walk and maybe find my own fossil but I saw on a previous post that we are not allowed too remove them so I guess photo evidence will be requiredbut id like to see my government stop me from removing something on my own private property .... I'll dig it up and say I saw it after i was done. Besides that I wonder who would new enforcing these laws because rangers, unfortunately are scarce , which is sad and partly due to funding. Is there any South African on here that has found a fossil on their property that went to find out what to do with it ? And did they try and claim it ? Someone else said maybe it's about there being so many fossils that there is such harsh laws , but I think not , I've walked in the karoo, for quite some time, maybe the wrong place , but I never saw anything ... maybe due to ignorance not knowing where to look I just looked at every random rock and where I saw stones and sediment had fallen down . Felt like a true paleontologists . Was fun though , we actually went for the flowers which is still in bloom at the moment , was really stunning. Anyhoo maybe I can find someone with who I can tag along and do as they do for a day , that would be super fun (we only get old when we stop having fun) . Maybe a museum here will be going on a "expedition" and maybe I can get my own little fossil ...just trying to make it sound more adventurous. ( highly doubtful ) Renovation is being done for about 15 years and I think it's still going on , so doubt they will be able to have money to go out and look for fossils , but who knows.

Hello! I am a novice on the forum and in this hobby too. And I have started my collection fossils not so long ago, in fact most interesting examples are on their way to me. But I think that it would be reasonable to make a thread about Moscow Paleontological Museum, because it is one of my favorite and often visited museums in my native city. Not so long ago I visited it once again and made some photos. Mammoth Myxopterus (cast)

My students and I found this fossil in our garden but can't identify it. Can anyone help us based on the picture? Thank you so much! We think it's some sort of jawbone

We’re Hardly Using Any Of Our Fossils The vast majority are languishing in museum storage. Is it time to dig them up all over again? By Cara Giaimo Atlas Obscura, September 26, 2018 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fossil-online-database The paper is: Marshall, C.R., Finnegan, S., Clites, E.C., Holroyd, P.A., Bonuso, N., Cortez, C., Davis, E., Dietl, G.P., Druckenmiller, P.S., Eng, R.C. and Garcia, C., 2018. Quantifying the dark data in museum fossil collections as palaeontology undergoes a second digital revolution. Biology letters, 14(9), p.20180431 http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/14/9/20180431 Yours, Paul H.

Utah Is A Gold Mine For Fossils Science Friday, September 21, 2018 https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/utah-is-a-gold-mine-for-fossils/ https://www.sciencefriday.com/ Yours, Paul H.

There is a new paper about the paleontology of Bears Ears National Monument that is available online as a preprint. It is: Uglesich, J., Gay, R.J. and Stegner, M.A., 2017. Paleontology of the Bears Ears National Monument: history of exploration and designation of the monument. PeerJ Preprints, 5, no. e3442v1. https://peerj.com/preprints/3442/ https://peerj.com/user/62073/ Another paper, which is available online, summarizes the archaeology of Bears Ears National Monument. It is: Burrilio, R.E., 2017. The Archaeology of Bears Ears. The SAA Archaeological Record. 15, 5, pp. 9 -18. http://www.saa.org/Portals/0/Record_Nov_2017 SAAweb.pdf http://onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?m=16146&l=1#{"issue_id":455593,"page":0} http://www.saa.org/AbouttheSociety/Publications/TheSAAArchaeologicalRecord/tabid/64/Default.aspx Yours, Paul

Hi all! My name's Emma and I'm brand new to fossil hunting. I came across the site while trying to find out any information i could on fossils and what to keep an eye out for and on where to even start on prepping. It all began last year when me and my partner when on a break in Torquay and a visit to the quarry at Berry Head in Brixham... Which led to us stopping at Lyme Regis on the way home where we picked up a few nodules and concretions.. a year down the line and another visit to Lyme I've started my first prep work on a gryphaea (I think) that we collected last year. I've learnt a fair amount from the site so far and really looking forward to learning more as time goes on. If anyone has any tips or pointers I'm open to all the help I can get. photo of first prep

Since the US already has their "National Fossil Day", I figured it would be nice for the non-American members of TFF to see this: http://www.ipa-assoc.org/index.php/internationalfossilday What do ya people think?

How an Amateur Collector Changed Paleontology Forever To those of The Fossil Forum, I wish to share with you the story of Maiasaura peeblesorum and Marion Brandvold, both good mothers. Maiasaura was discovered forty years ago in June of 1978; this is the month and year of the Maiasaura. Marion and her son, David Trexler, found fossils fascinating long before Jurassic Park popularized dinosaurs. They would often take a vehicle out and go prospecting in their backyard geologic formation known as the Two Medicine. One hot summer evening when walking back to the vehicle, Marion took a small detour and came upon some tiny fossilized bones. In 1937, the Trexlers had opened a rock and jewelry store, and over the years had created a successful jewelry manufacturing and wholesale business along with their ranching interest. However, Marion's heart was always with the land and the animals, and when her husband passed away, she opened a retail store for her merchandise rather than try to keep up with the wholesale business. That way, she still had time for the ranching and rock hunting that she loved. Marion and David had discovered a partial dinosaur in 1971, and they traveled the State of Montana to compare it to all the wonderful previous discoveries they had read about that had been made in Montana. To their surprise, the only dinosaur on display in the entire State was in a little museum in the basement of the high school in Ekalaka, Montana. It had been assembled by a couple of ranchers who had worked with paleontologists from elsewhere who had come to the State, collected, and left. Chagrined that nothing was left behind when professional work was done, they decided to start a small museum in the back of the family store. The goal was to display a dinosaur skeleton from their local area. After all, if ranchers from Ekalaka could do it, so could they. As far as professional training was concerned, Marion had to rely on her familiarity with the ecology of the modern world, as she had no formal education on the subject. However, a ranch foreman when she was young had taught her the art of tracking, and had shown her how each organism interacted with other organisms and its environment. So, when looking for fossil skeletons, Marion expected to see very young and very old animal pieces, but not much in-between. On the fateful evening mentioned previously, Marion, Dave, and Dave's wife, Laurie, were out collecting what they believed to be a fairly complete duckbilled dinosaur skeleton. It is a long, tedious job collecting all the bones present in a dinosaur, and they had uncovered 15 or so at that point. As tools were being put away, Marion went for a little walk, and when Dave and Laurie caught up with her, she was sitting on a small mound of dirt with a big smile on her face. She said, "look what I found!" She was holding several baby dinosaur vertebrae. Within a few minutes, they had found many more, and Dave had found a piece of a jaw with obviously duckbilled dinosaur teeth attached. However, the entire jaw section could be covered by a nickel! They had a baby dinosaur to go with their adult in the museum. Bill Clemens, a mammal paleontologist from Berkely, had stopped in Marion's shop on his way to dig on fossil fish with some colleagues, and was impressed with what had been done in creating a fossil museum without any formal training. At the fish site, he encouraged Jack Horner, then a fossil preparator at Princeton, and Jack's friend Bob Makela, a high school teacher from Rudyard, Montana, to stop at Marion's shop and see the displays. A few days later, Jack and Bob left the fish site and visited Marion's rock shop and museum. Jack introduced himself to Marion, and for the next few hours, they had a wonderful time going over the specimens Marion had on display. Jack then asked if she had anything else, and she showed him a couple of the vertebrae she had picked up from the baby site. Jack's interest was immediately piqued, and he asked if she had more. Marion directed him across the street to where Dave was reassembling the baby bones they had collected. Jack realized immediately that Marion and Dave had something they didn't understand. He asked, "do you know what you have here?", and Dave replied, "Obviously not, since you are so excited." The concept of babies and old animals dying and being preserved in the fossil record, it turned out, was only partially correct. While that cycle probably did occur, baby bones were generally not preserved in the fossil record. The bones Bob and Jack were staring at turned out to be the first baby dinosaur remains known from North America. Jack asked to be allowed to borrow the fossils in order to write them up in a formal publication. The bones were carefully wrapped and placed in a coffee can, and Jack transported them to Princeton. A visit to the site was also in order, and Marion and Dave took Jack and Bob out to the site. Dave also showed Jack a poorly preserved skull that Laurie had discovered, and Jack offered to try to remove it and clean it up for display in Marion's museum. However, after a few years and the specimen was recovered and prepared, it turned out to be the type skull for Maiasaura, and Laurie donated it to Museum of the Rockies, where Jack was working by then. Baby dinosaurs together in a nest past hatching showed a totally different picture of what dinosaurs were thought to be. Jack returned for many years, and eventually the Museum of the Rockies purchased the land where the babies were discovered. The area has become a mecca for paleontological research. The discovery of all this led to a massive shift in the view paleontologist and indeed science as a whole had for extinct animals and modern reptiles. A realization occurred that dinosaurs were truly living, breathing, majestic animals who cared for their young, much like the life we often see around us today. Hungry and thirsty, often looking for a mate, just trying to stay alive in an unforgiving world were the dinosaurs. Far from terrible lizards, they were much like animals and we humans are today. All this came from Marion’s tiny little find. It was her tiny find which led to a surge of interest and public attention. It was her tiny find which started Jack Horner’s career. It was her tiny find that indirectly caused Spielberg to help create Jurassic Park which in turn inspired many into paleontology and many more into other sciences. Those she indirectly inspired have contributed a near inconceivable amount to mankind through science. They range from medical researchers curing diseases, to those looking for extraterrestrial life, and all the way down to myself. A great many started their interest in the sciences with an early love of fossils and dinosaurs. A love Marion Branvold started and continues through her past contribution. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to meet her and she passed away in 2014, at the age of 102. Over the course of my short time in paleontology, I had the honor to stand where her tiny find was made. As the search for more discoveries continues I have been privileged to search with both Jack Horner and Dave Trexler. In the great quest for knowledge, she played her part well, now it is for us to carry on with the next act. What a massive contribution from an amateur and so tiny a find. As others ogle over the next major discovery, keep all this in mind and tell us more of your own tiny find. Eric P. Made with great assistance by David Trexler

Looking For Fossils On The Surface Of Mars Brian Koberlein, Forbes, May 28, 2018 https://www.forbes.com/sites/briankoberlein/2018/05/29/looking-for-fossils-on-the-surface-of-mars/ McMahon, S., Bosak, T., Grotzinger, J.P., Milliken, R.E., Summons, R.E., Daye, M., Newman, S.A., Fraeman, A., Williford, K.H. and Briggs, D.E.G., 2018. A Field Guide to Finding Fossils on Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. First published: 02 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JE005478 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2017JE005478 PDF file at: https://authors.library.caltech.edu/86220/1/McMahon_et_al-2017-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research%3A_Planets.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324904704_A_Field_Guide_to_Finding_Fossils_on_Mars Yours, Paul H.

Here is a parody of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” that points out my fossil and rock collecting philosophy. Roads are good to take you to the areas that few people search, especially the creek beds. Remember, I like to leave no stone unturned. I challenge all TFF members (especially @snolly50) to send in your paleontology related original poems. Consider your own version of Frost's poem. The Roads Not Taken by John, AKA DPS Ammonite Two roads diverged in a rocky wood, And not sorry to travel either one And being an adventurer, long I stood And looked up the nearby creek bed as far as I could To see the rocks glistening in the sun. I took the downstream side, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better rocks Because it was fossil rich and wanted wear; Paleozoic creatures preserved there stood out in massive limestone blocks. The up and downstream sides equally lay In rocks no one had collected. Oh, I kept the upstream side for another day, Knowing fossils that occurred that way, should not be left uninspected. I shall be telling this with never a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the creek bed nearby, And that has made all the difference.

CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM DESIGNATED AS MARYLAND STATE PALEONTOLOGY CENTER http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=278&ARC=418

Palaeontologist Steve Brusatte: we owe Jurassic Park a debt of gratitude By Andrew Anthony, The Observer, May 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/13/steve-brusatte-palaeontologist-debt-gratitude-jurassic-park Yours, Paul H.

Scientifically vital fossils vanish, Masol’s claim to fame in danger Siddarth Banerjee | TNN | April 30, 2018 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/scientifically-vital-fossils-vanish-masols-claim-to-fame-in-danger/articleshow/63969904.cms 2.6-million-year-old ‘priceless’ fossil on sale for just Rs 4500 Sidharth Banerjee | TNN | July 24, 2017 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-6-million-year-old-priceless-fossil-on-sale-for-just-rs-4500/articleshow/59729760.cms Some papers are: Chapon-Sao, C., Abdessadok, S., Tudryn, A., Malassé, A.D., Singh, M., Karir, B., Gaillard, C., Moigne, A.M., Gargani, J. and Bhardwaj, V., 2016. Lithostratigraphy of Masol paleonto-archeological localities in the Quranwala Zone, 2.6 Ma, northwestern India. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 15(3-4), pp. 417-439. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01323986/ Malassé, A.D., Moigne, A.M., Singh, M., Calligaro, T., Karir, B., Gaillard, C., Kaur, A., Bhardwaj, V., Pal, S., Abdessadok, S. and Sao, C.C., 2016. Intentional cut marks on bovid from the Quranwala zone, 2.6 Ma, Siwalik Frontal Range, northwestern India. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 15(3-4), pp. 317-339. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292209224_Intentional_cut_marks_on_bovid_from_the_Quranwala_zone_26_Ma_Siwalik_Frontal_Range_northwestern_India https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Dambricourt_Malasse Malassé, A.D., Singh, M., Karir, B., Gaillard, C., Bhardwaj, V., Moigne, A.M., Abdessadok, S., Sao, C.C., Gargani, J., Tudryn, A. and Calligaro, T., 2016. Anthropic activities in the fossiliferous Quranwala Zone, 2.6 Ma, Siwaliks of Northwest India, historical context of the discovery and scientific investigations. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 15(3-4), pp.295-316. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292077679_Anthropic_activities_in_the_fossiliferous_Quranwala_Zone_26Ma_Siwaliks_of_Northwest_India_historical_context_of_the_discovery_and_scientific_investigations https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Dambricourt_Malasse Gargani, J., Abdessadok, S., Tudryn, A., Sao, C.C., Malassé, A.D., Gaillard, C., Moigne, A.M., Singh, M., Bhardwaj, V. and Karir, B., 2016. Geology and geomorphology of Masol paleonto-archeological site, Late Pliocene, Chandigarh, Siwalik Frontal Range, NW India. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 15(3-4), pp.379-391. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281291986_Geology_and_Geomorphology_of_Masol_paleonto-archeological_site_Late_Pliocene_Chandigarh_Siwalik_Frontal_Range_NW_India https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Dambricourt_Malasse Gaillard, C., Singh, M., Malassé, A.D., Bhardwaj, V., Karir, B., Kaur, A., Pal, S., Moigne, A.M., Sao, C.C., Abdessadok, S. and Gargani, J., 2016. The lithic industries on the fossiliferous outcrops of the Late Pliocene masol formation, Siwalik frontal range, northwestern India (Punjab). Comptes Rendus Palevol, 15(3-4), pp.341-357. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293332452_The_lithic_industries_on_the_fossiliferous_outcrops_of_the_Late_Pliocene_Masol_Formation_Siwalik_Frontal_Range_north-western_India_Punjab https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claire_Gaillard2 Yours, Paul H.

I am planning a trip with my 12-year-old grandson (and future paleontologist) to a dinosaur dig this summer, and would like to get some first hand advice on choosing a good outfit. We can go about anywhere in the U.S., several days to a week, but since we'll likely be flying we can't easily bring along much gear of our own. I've researched dozens of dig sites. Some sites were outdated, some sketchy on details, some had age limits or are already filled. PaleoAdventures and Hell Creek Fossils, Dinosaurs of the Western Slopes are possibilities, but I would welcome any comments on organizations to avoid, or ones you have had a good experience with.

Nice to see discoveries like this by dedicated avocational paleontologists! Who would think to look on the ceiling of caves for ancient footprints? "Fossil hunters also responsible for finding dinosaur tracks in Tumbler Ridge, B.C." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tumbler-ridge-south-africa-1.4555438

Africa’s rich fossil finds should get the air time they deserve Julien Benoit, University of the Witwatersrand The Conversation, February 21, 2018 http://theconversation.com/africas-rich-fossil-finds-should-get-the-air-time-they-deserve-91849 https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/in-their-own-words/2018/2018-02/africas-rich-fossil-finds-should-get-the-air-time-they-deserve.html Yours, Paul H.

Hello, for me currently Paleontology is only a hobby, but I want to have a future in this. So what I am asking for is some advice, what is the best universities in Europe especially in Germany and how should I best prepare myself to gain acceptance. When I say this I am speaking for all the young enthusiasts that want this to be more than just a hobby, but a life long career. I would like to dedicate my life to this field. All advice would be appreciated, regards Leander.

Hello All- I am doing a talk next Tuesday on the difference between Archaeology and Paleontology. I am looking for published instances where the two are used incorrectly. Can anyone help? Thanks.

Hi all, I just wanted to let everyone interested in eastern North American dinosaurs know that my paper reviewing and analyzing Appalachian dinosaur faunas was published as Brownstein (2018). The full citation and doi are below. Brownstein, CD. 2018. The biogeography and ecology of the Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs of Appalachia. Palaeontologia Electronica 21.1.5A: 1-56. All the best, Chase

Hello to everyone! My name is Oleg, I live in Calgary in Canadian province of Alberta. I am a 3D artist by occupation, but recently I have decided to try myself in paleoart, as I have been interested in paleontology, fossils and prehistoric animals since my childhood. I cannot say that I am an experienced fossil collector, but I do enjoy fossil-hunting as I live in the unique place: you drive for one hour east and find yourself in the Dinosaur Country of Red Deer badlands; you go west - and you find yourself on the bottom of Cambrian see in the middle of Canadian Rockies. I hope to meet new people that share common interest in paleontology, also would be looking for critique and advice regarding my paleoart I am going to post here.