Mystery Cambrian Fossil (Trilo-bit?) From Braintree, MA

[Bguild]

Hi there - over the weekend I stumbled upon an area where some of the Cambrian aged Argillite from the old Hayward Creek Quarry in Braintree , Massachusetts was supposedly dumped. I found little bits of fossils which was promising, but I split one rock which had a larger mystery object in it. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? It kind of looks like part of a trilobite cephalon/glabella with what could be an eye. But that could be my eyes playing tricks on me with hopes of finding remnants of the famous, now elusive Braintree trilobites (in particular paradoxides harlini). It doesn't help that this rock didn't split evenly with details of the fossil still embedded within, or between the two halves.

 

Photographed wet as a FYI. 

 

 

 

 

[jpc]

As a MA native who knew nothing about these things when I left, I am thrilled for you that you found a possible Braintree trilo hunting ground.  As for what this is.... I wish I could help. 

 

[Bguild]

50 minutes ago, jpc said:

As a MA native who knew nothing about these things when I left, I am thrilled for you that you found a possible Braintree trilo hunting ground.  As for what this is.... I wish I could help. 

 

 

Thanks! Not sure how much we can really ID from this without it being put back together and cleaned up a bit. Wish my prep skills were up to the task. I'm making it my summer mission to learn more about the Braintree trilobites. Would loveeee to find a productive outcrop versus scraps, but I'll take what I can get hah! I'm sure they're out there... land access is tough.

Edited June 21, 2022 by Bguild

[jpc]

I’m rootin for ya.  Oh, and go Sox!

[Fossildude19]

@piranha  @Kane

[Kane]

An intriguing piece, but I just can’t pin it down. I defer to @piranha for this one. 

[Bguild]

Thanks all. It’s definitely a tricky one. Here’s one more view at a bit of an angle. The larger portion does appear to have some texture/pattern to it.

 

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by Bguild

[Bguild]

Emailed the curator of invert paleontology over at Harvard and so far leaning towards a paradoxides cephalon