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.
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.
This is a very well detailed fossil fish vertebra. Fossil shells and fragments littered much of the gully.
Close up of one of the mosasaur vertebra.
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.
Five or six baby mosasaur vertebra were found in the roots of the tree.
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.
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.
Several members eagerly looking at the fish jaw and bones found by Jan.
Fish jaw found by Jan.
Fossil fish jaw found by Jan.
Parts of a fossil fish jaw found by Jan.
James Lamb is carefully collecting pieces of the fish jaw.
More pieces of the fish jaw are being found as members watch the excavation.
Several shark teeth found at the site.
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.
Numerous pieces of fossil turtle are scattered around this area.
Parts of a turtle bone during excavation, using a soft brush to keep the dirt cleared away.
Pieces of turtle bone
Standing around cooling off as the turtle is being excavated, and showing off finds from various parts of the gully.
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.
Various views of a very nice vertebra found by Pam.
Fossil fish vertebra found in the chalk gully.
Fossil shells laying on top of an exogyra.
Another fossil mosasaur vertebra.
Fossil turtle scapula.