Feather from the neogene

[Yan11]

Hi guys,

Last week I was on a vacation in Balchik on the northern coast of the black sea and I visited a small fossil site there. It's a small shoreline littered with mudstone and limestone (I think). Previously there I have been finding bones of sea mammals but this time I found something even more interesting... From what I can tell it's a feather. I just wanted to ask you if you can confirm that it's a feather. I was also wandering if there is anyway that it is a modern birds feather somehow imprinted on the fallen rock.

 

Happy New Year to everyone !!!

[RuMert]

Looks very nice. There should be complete birds then?

[Rockwood]

13 minutes ago, Yan11 said:

I was also wandering if there is anyway that it is a modern birds feather somehow imprinted on the fallen rock.

It would have to happen in a place where travertine could form. A cave or sheltered overhang for instance. It's hard for me to imagine it being preserved this well under most of those circumstances though.

[Thecosmilia Trichitoma]

Nice Find!

[Yan11]

11 minutes ago, RuMert said:

Looks very nice. There should be complete birds then?

Thanks,

And....well....now there are about 600+ kilometers from me to that bird (if it exists) sooo... Guess we will never know

[Carl]

I find it hard to believe a feather could survive such a beach. Could it be a modern stain on the rock. I agree that it looks a whole lot like a feather, however. Strange!

[Rockwood]

Could the undulating look in the center actually be seeds in a grass plant ?

You know, like as in amber waves of grain.

[Yan11]

5 minutes ago, Rockwood said:

Could the undulating look in the center actually be seeds in a grass plant ?

You know, like as in amber waves of grain.

Yeah, at first I also thought of that but on a closer inspection I can't identify any sine of that.

Those dots on the picture somewhat resemble seeds but looking at the actual specimen I wouldn't say so.

Then again I haven't seen many fossils of grass seeds.