Central New York Suggestions

[Calico Jack]

Hi all,

I'm home on break in Syracuse NY and a warm spell has melted all of the snow, and I'm trying to get some fossil hunting in! However, I'm home for a short time, and I'm looking for some new CNY sites. I've put in countless hours at Cole Hill, Deep Springs, and Briggs, and I'd like to switch it up. I'd also love to add some new stuff that isnt trilos, nautiloids, or brachs to my collection. If anyone has recommendations (especially for fish bits or eurypterids) I'd really appreciate it! Thanks and happy holidays!

[Shamalama]

Fish bits and Eurypterids are not easily found near Syracuse. You'd need to go east for Eurypterids and pay lots of money to get to a private quarry where they can be reliably found.  Fish bits are typically found in Upper Devonian material so you'd need to look for sites to your south and West for that. Sorry I can't help you with sites for either, they are on my list too but I just have not found any productive sites.  If you want to go all the way over to Buffalo, you could walk up 18 mile creek to seek out some of the North Evans Limestone. That is a lag bed that does contain fish bits and teeth.

[Jeffrey P]

Jamesville Quarry just south of Syracuse has fish fossil parts in its topmost layer. I was there in 2013 with the Paleontological Research Institute. As far as I know it's closed to collecting now, but you may want to check that out. I've also heard of an Upper Devonian fish bonebed exposed in northern Delaware County, but I can't say exactly where. I have seen a couple examples of it and it is truly loaded, though the preservation isn't wonderful. If you haven't been to Pompey Center on Route 20, it is a site you may find worth checking out though the fossils are the kinds you mostly are tired of.  Good luck.