Fossil and Pendant in One
Posted by [CMD]:
Moderator Note: this thread was first posted in 2012 but failed to transfer across to the new forum when the software was updated, and so has been re-created manually.
12/2/12 note: Posted a much better pic of the fossil itself below in new comment........
Haven't seen this piece for many years. Today the guy who found it some 40 years ago stopped by with this and other goodies. We both collect fossils and artifacts, so this is special since the native collected this as a fossil too before grinding notches into it. It's a piece of Rhode Island Formation shale, about 290 million years old and there is an impression of a fern leaf on the lower right portion. It looks like the shale broke and the fossil was revealed ages ago, so it's likely the native found it just as is and fashioned a pendant. Unfortunately the fern is poorly preserved and I wish I'd taken better photos. Next time. Wonder how the native explained the image on the rock? I've found fossil ferns that seemed obviously transported to campsites but this is unique and I wish I found it!
Posted by [gregszybala]
Now that's cool Charlie, all kinds of history in that little rock!
Posted by [CMD ]:
Decided to add another photo to this thread because I failed to take a good photo the last time I saw this fossil/artifact of the poorly preserved fern itself. My friend stopped by yesterday and I was able to get a somewhat better shot of the little fern that the native collected.
We have geology and paleontology to assist us in interpreting how the impression of a fern came to reside on a pebble of shale. But it wasn't that long ago that this might have been interpreted as a relic of the biblical flood. What must the natives have thought? What's neat about artifacts like this is we know this pendant was created to display a fossil for his/her friends and family to see and perhaps comment upon.
Posted by [Butch Wilson]:
Nice it's a .........twofer !
Posted by [CMD]:
Moderator Note: this thread was first posted in 2012 but failed to transfer across to the new forum when the software was updated, and so has been re-created manually.
12/2/12 note: Posted a much better pic of the fossil itself below in new comment........
Haven't seen this piece for many years. Today the guy who found it some 40 years ago stopped by with this and other goodies. We both collect fossils and artifacts, so this is special since the native collected this as a fossil too before grinding notches into it. It's a piece of Rhode Island Formation shale, about 290 million years old and there is an impression of a fern leaf on the lower right portion. It looks like the shale broke and the fossil was revealed ages ago, so it's likely the native found it just as is and fashioned a pendant. Unfortunately the fern is poorly preserved and I wish I'd taken better photos. Next time. Wonder how the native explained the image on the rock? I've found fossil ferns that seemed obviously transported to campsites but this is unique and I wish I found it!
Posted by [gregszybala]
Now that's cool Charlie, all kinds of history in that little rock!
Posted by [CMD ]:
Decided to add another photo to this thread because I failed to take a good photo the last time I saw this fossil/artifact of the poorly preserved fern itself. My friend stopped by yesterday and I was able to get a somewhat better shot of the little fern that the native collected.
We have geology and paleontology to assist us in interpreting how the impression of a fern came to reside on a pebble of shale. But it wasn't that long ago that this might have been interpreted as a relic of the biblical flood. What must the natives have thought? What's neat about artifacts like this is we know this pendant was created to display a fossil for his/her friends and family to see and perhaps comment upon.
Posted by [Butch Wilson]:
Nice it's a .........twofer !
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