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Hey everyone, Thought I’d share a recent acquisition of mine with you all! This is an extremely rare odontopleurid called Diacanthaspis sp. from the closed Ordovician locality at Swatara gap. These trilobites were not often found at the trilobite beds at Swatara Gap but rather in the echinoderm beds. One publications states that in 100 hours of digging one could expect one articulated specimen. It is probably the 7th 8th most rare trilobite species at Swatara behind Proteus and Platylichas.

Hello everyone! Today I acquired a specimen that is of a rarity that's nearly unparalleled. The specimen in question is the cuticle of a Eurypterid from the famous, classic, and closed Ordovician locality at Swatara Gap. I believe it is undescribed and I can tell its a eurypterid for sure by the scaling pattern on the cuticle. Eurypterids aren't unheard of at Swatara Gap but I have never seen a specimen or even known about a specimen other then the one I have. They are extremely rare and were probably over looked by collectors due to not knowing what they were. I acquired the eurypterid from a close friend, Kerry Matt. Kerry collected it over 40 years ago, after a talking to him about it (he knows I'm obsessed with these things lol!) we worked out a trade!! The eurypterid itself is most likely closely related to the genera Echinognathus and Megalograptus. This specimen is just breath taking and so exciting to me. It might be my favorite specimen in my collection!!!

I recently came across a fossiliferous exposure along an old rail trail near Swatara State Park, PA. Most of the fossils there were brachiopods, but I also found several interesting fossils I couldn't identify. Fossils in this area are from the Middle Devonian Period, or so I've read. These two appear to be the same species, perhaps at different stages of development: This last one (cast and mold) looks like a tooth, but I suspect it's really some kind of hyolith:

My dad and I took a trip up to Swatara state park today and checked out the rock around the fossil pile and creek. Lots of shells but I did find a partial trilobite so I’m happy! I took some quick pics of the cooler stuff when I got home and I have a couple others I need to clean up a bit more but these were my favorites! I’m just in here with that classy toilet seat pic lol

I'm currently planning out some sites to check out in the Central PA area... I'm trying to stay within 1-1.5 hours of Harrisburg if possible. Right now I am considering trying my luck at exploring the Rockville Quarry or what was left of it, as well as just taking a shot in the dark and checking out a few streams in the area. My first official fossil hunt was last Friday (Aug 28) at the Swatara fossil pit. Found a few shells and what I believe to be a partial trilobite exoskeleton or imprint. Definitely going to check that site out again though. Does anyone have any tips/locations for the Central PA area? Right now my holy grail is a complete trilobite but I'm so new to the game that I get excited at any remnant of a previous life.

In the fall of 2011 I got of the train in Harrisburg on my way to Red Hill for my first dig with DVPS and waited for the rental car shuttle. The folks there voiced concern that this snow storm might interfere with the dig. Anyway, I dug this from under a snow covered stump up the highway at Swatara State park the next day. Looking at it recently, I noticed this shape that seemed different than the fenestrate bryozoans that were common in the samples. Any chance this is a starfish ?

Anyone, in my searching for places to fossil hunt along my travel routes, I look for places I don't need to seek permission for, since I usually am in an area for only a half day. I realized that Swatara State park is only a mile off the route I take back to Florida after visiting my daughter's family in Maine. The information I found however is from 2012. Anyone have more recent experience or recent information for me...would it be worthwhile for a stop...or are there other places between Scranton and Harrisburg I might look more successfully...Thanks for the help.

Hi...I am new to the group and new to fossil hunting so i can use all the help i can get! My daughter joined science olympiads this year...she has always had an interest in fossils so she competed in the fossil event (she even won a medal!) anyway this has lead to the whole family getting a new hobby. I am taking a road trip from NC to NJ in the next couple weeks. I thought to break up the trip maybe we could look for some fossils along the way. I drive I77 until just into VA then to I81 past harrisburg PA, then I78 into NJ. I found a place called swatara state park in PA...trilobites are my daughters new favorite thing in the world so i thought we could look around there. my questions are: Is it safe? It will be just my daughter and me as my husband cannot get away for the trip so is this a safe area to be in by ourselves? Is there anything left to find there? I saw that it is a .5 mile walk to the site but is there anything to find once we get there? Does anyone have any other suggestions of places to stop...hopefully not to far off the interstates? we went to aurora nc over christmas and brought back some dirt that she is constantly looking through so even something like that...the quality of the finds does not have to be the best, just fun for her to find something. thanks for the help!