Alabama

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John carefully wraps foil around the turtle bones that have been excavated from the site by himself, Larry, and James Lamb.

Becky Guthrie

John

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Several shark teeth found at the site.

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Fossil shells laying on top of an exogyra.

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View of the gully from the Cool Off Station.

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Fossil fish vertebra found in the chalk gully.

June 28, 2008 - Cretaceous Fossils, Sumter County, AL

Trip to Sumter County, Alabama. . . more to follow, wanted to get pictures up for everyone.

(Pictures courtesy Jan Novak and Vicki Lais)

The whole gang.

Fossils: mosasaur, Fossils: turtle

After a brief overview of the geology of the area, and a review of collecting and flagging procedures by James Lamb, the group headed out into the gullies. Almost immediately, fossil mosasaur vertebra and turtle pieces are found and marked with flags.

Fossils: fish vertebra, Fossils: shell

This is a very well detailed fossil fish vertebra. Fossil shells and fragments littered much of the gully.

Fossils: mosasaur vertebra

Close up of one of the mosasaur vertebra.

Fossils: shell, Fossils: wood

Several members found blackened fossil wood, which looked like charcoal. Note the shell attached to the wood. Samples were gathered, as sometimes the specimens are so well preserved one can determine the species.

James Lamb spotted the bones of an adult mosasaur skull, and several (5-6) vertebra of a baby mosasaur, mostly caught in the roots of the small tree. One was so lightweight, it was caught in a spiderweb! The bulk of the bones washed down the gully long ago.

Fossils: mosasaur vertebra

Five or six baby mosasaur vertebra were found in the roots of the tree.

Fossils: mosasaur

Mosasaur bone of an adult or larger juvenile found in the roots of the tree.

We had an area designated as the "Cool Off Station" stocked with cold drinks and fans, manned by Greg, where members dropped off their ice chests and retreated when they got too hot. If you look carefully, you can see coolers hung in the trees, in an attempt to keep out the fire ants. Thanks to Don, who brought popsicles for everyone to enjoy! There was a great view of the gullies from this vantage point.

View of the gully from the Cool Off Station.

At lunchtime, James Lamb made the rounds of flags where members had marked fossil finds, with many of us tagging along to learn the proper scientific names (or at least hear them said out loud!), and see if what we found was actually fossil material!

James Lamb examining one of the fossils marked by a flag.

Fossils: fish vertebra

Fossil fish vertebra

James Lamb demonstrating the "taste test", does it taste more like chicken, or fish?

As we hear screams of excitement from Claire, everyone begins converging on the site where Jan found a nicely preserved fish jaw with teeth, and also vertebra and other bones.

Fossils: fish jaw

Several members eagerly looking at the fish jaw and bones found by Jan.

Fossils: fish jaw

Fish jaw found by Jan.

Fossils: fish jaw

Fossil fish jaw found by Jan.

Fossils: fish

Parts of a fossil fish jaw found by Jan.

James Lamb is carefully collecting pieces of the fish jaw.

Fossils: fish

More pieces of the fish jaw are being found as members watch the excavation.

Fossils: shark teeth

Several shark teeth found at the site.

Fossils: oyster, Fossils: enchodus, Fossils: vertebra

A fossil oyster shell bed is in the background, with an enchodus tooth in the lower right, a fish vertebra, shell and what appears to be a coprolite specimen in upper left.

John and Larry found a good part of a fossil turtle in an area not easily accessible.

Fossils: turtle bone

Parts of a turtle bone during excavation, using a soft brush to keep the dirt cleared away.

Fossils: turtle

Numerous pieces of fossil turtle are scattered around this area.

Standing around cooling off as the turtle is being excavated, and showing off finds from various parts of the gully.

Fossils: turtle

Pieces of turtle bone

Fossils: pectin

Pectin and other shells were found in the chalk layers as the turtle was being excavated.

John carefully wraps foil around the turtle bones that have been excavated from the site by himself, Larry, and James Lamb.

As James Lamb excavates dirt, more and more turtle bone is exposed, Also a large shell is in the same area.

Fossils: fish, Fossils: vertebra

Fossil fish vertebra found in the chalk gully.

Fossils: vertebra

Various views of a very nice vertebra found by Pam.

Fossils: shells, Fossils: exogyra

Fossil shells laying on top of an exogyra.

Fossils: mosasaur vertebra

Another fossil mosasaur vertebra.

Fossils: bone

Fossil turtle scapula.

May 31, 2008 - Late Cretaceous Fossils, Dallas County, AL

This Saturday in late May was HOT! A large group of 27 people met at a private site in central Alabama to search several very extensive gullies for fossils. BPS has not visited this site in at least 10 years, so we were excited about this opportunity. This gully has been a treasure-trove of fossil material over the years, most of which is currently housed at the Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This day was no exception, and a number of important finds were made, including various mosasaur bones at several locations, including a juvenile vertebra, at least two fish skeletons, turtle bones, several partial and deformed starfish replaced with marcasite, Enchodus teeth of all sizes, a bird tooth, and another fossil bird. From the items being shown for photo documentation, it seemed that most people found at least one shark tooth, oysters, shell material, and plenty of shrimp burrows. Claire even found an echinoid.

Several people decided to brave the tall grass and poison ivy to check out a gully off the beaten path. Along with the fossils were plenty of chiggers!

Did I mention that it was HOT? James Lamb's thermometer in the middle of the gully registered 115 degrees. Coupled with the lack of vegetation, the stark white chalk of the gullies made this day almost unbearable, though we attempted to get in early to avoid the heat. When one is not accustomed to heat, hyperthermia can set in quickly, with symptoms of dizzyness, dehydration, confusion, and a feeling of exhaustion. Also, the gullies were so steep, once deciding it was time to go find a cool drink and some shade, just climbing out of the gullies was a major undertaking. A number of people decided to leave by early afternoon, or sit in the shade of the trees to cool off. One group took off to tour Old Cahawba, with a swim afterward, and Becky was headed out to North Dakota to hunt fossils for a couple of weeks. A smaller group managed to stay late; once it starts cooling off around 5pm, the late evening sunlight is often polarized, which makes it much easier to spot fossils, and collecting is very pleasant.

Photos courtesy Jan Novak and Vicki Lais

This will have to do for the group photo. Here are 18 of the members and guests on the trip. What's that you said James, lets do the group picture when we get to the gully???

Climbing down the steep gully wall to the middle of the gully where fossils are found, and of course, we're already looking for fossils!

Climbing down the steep side of the gully. This was the EASY route!

Fossils: fish vertebra

Fossil fish vertebra

Fossils: fish vertebra

Tiny fish vertebra

Fossils: fish vertebra

Fossil fish vertebra

Fossils: fish vertebra

Fish vertebra

Fossils: enchodus

Bone fragment found by Jan

People gather around where a mosasaur was found, while James Lamb points out parts of the skeleton.

Fossils: mosasaur

Fossil mosasaur bones

Fossils: mosasaur

Carefully examining the ground around the newly spotted mosasaur fossil

Fossils: mosasaur

Getting a closer look at the mosasaur bones.

Fossils: mosasaur

Examining mosasaur fossils

Fossils: Bird tooth

Bird tooth

Fossils: shark tooth, Fossils: various shells, Fossils: marcasite nodules

Shark tooth, various shells, marcasite nodules

Fossils: shark teeth, Fossils: mosasaur vertebra, Fossils: enchodus tooth

Shark teeth, enchodus tooth, mosasaur vertebra

The group spread out, searching in each wash area.

Fossils: mosasaur vertebra, Fossils: shark tooth, Fossils: enchodus

Shark teeth, enchodus tooth and tiny mosasaur vertebra.

Fossils: oyster shells

Oyster shells

The gullies are extensive, and the fossils blend in with the soil, so eagle eyes are sometimes necessary.

Fossils: shark teeth

Various shark teeth found by BPS members.

Looking over what each other has found.

Red flag in a gully, marking a fossil that needs examined by James

Fossils: enchodus teeth

Enchodus teeth of various sizes. A small piece of an enchodus jawbone was also found, as shown in the leftmost image. A rose bush has thorns larger than these tiny teeth in the middle!

The never ending search for shade to cool off a few minutes.

Fossils: teeth

Miscellaneous fossils

Rychard and Don carefully examine the chalk for fossils, which are difficult to see.

One of the extensive eroded chalk gullies in this area

Fossils: shark teeth, Fossils: echinoid, Fossils: enchodus

Claire emptied out her bag to show some of the fossils she found.

James Lamb spends a few minutes on every single field trip to write down the details of the site in his log book, including who was on the trip, what was found, and other items of interest. Log books such as these are an important part of the professional paleontologist's responsibility.