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Last summer I became interested in collecting mollusks from the Chicago area rather by accident. I happened to find some shells in a dug up wastepile. I contacted the Prairie Research Institute and it turned out a geologist there was interested in C14 dating them for a surficial geologic mapping project he was working on. I then became obsessed with finding more from different points around the city. I was able to find 5 other localities and these samples were also donated. These are are freshwater aquatic mollusks from the Tolleston shoreline of ancestral Lake Michigan. Overall it was fascinating to compare the "Ice Age" mollusks with modern shells on the beach, the effect of invasive species and contributing to science. 

 

Radiocarbon data from one sample. After calibration: 4700, 6200BP

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Edited by aek
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47 minutes ago, aek said:

Overall it was fascinating to compare the "Ice Age" mollusks with modern shells on the beach, the effect of invasive species and contributing to science. 

Very very cool! So nice to find scientists interested in collaborating on a project like this. Great to know that a fossil hunt is not just for curios for your cabinet but are being used to further science. :)

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

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