Stephanie Morrissette
Stephanie Morrissette is an avid naturalist and a Library Assistant at the Reference & Local History Department at CDPL.
National Fossil Day is the day to celebrate our geologic heritage! This day, established by the National Park Service in 2010, highlights the scientific and educational values of paleontology and the importance of fossils in not only our past but how we might learn about our future. Fossils are geologic time capsules—plants and animals that have been preserved in the rock record for millions of years. Fossils are solidified remains of organisms whose origin can be traced back to specific time periods. It takes a minimum of 10,000 years for fossils to “fossilize” (the oldest known fossil is 3.5 million years old). For kids, fossils are a mystery worth investigating; we have titles for younger patrons that include Fossils by Chris Bowman (j 560 Bow); Fossils by Sally Walker (j 560 Wal); and Fossils by Robert Allan (j 560 Rob). And don’t forget about dinosaurs! We have a plethora of books both in the youth and adult collections.
Fossils gave rise to our knowledge of our ancestors. Fossils helped us discover that dinosaurs once roamed the earth. Fossils show us plants and animals that have been frozen in time. Fossils can even be found right here in Montgomery County, along Sugar Creek. In fact, Crawfordsville is not only a crinoid fossil hot spot in our state but across the nation. Crinoid specimens (relatives of starfish) from this area can be found in universities and museums across the country, even right here at CDPL in our second-floor display. For a more historical record on Indiana fossils, see our Local History department’s collection of Indiana Geological Survey Reports (RG 557.72 Ind); Fossil Plants of Indiana (RG 560.9 Ind); and Adventures with Fossils (RG 560.9772 Sha).
Montgomery County also offers a treasure trove of other fossils, including brachiopods (shelled animals), gastropods (circular shelled mollusks), horn corals, bivalves (relative of clams), bryozoans (corkscrew or bumpy moss-like animals), trilobites (though rare, relative of horseshoe crabs), fossilized wood and even Petoskey stones (polished Rugose coral head desired by fossil hunters). Petoskey stones are magical in appearance; they resemble regular “rocks”, but when wet the distinctive pattern of the coral is evident.
If you are interested in becoming a fossil hunter, visit us for reference information including Fossils: The Key to the Past by Richard Fortey (560 For); Fossils: Prehistoric Animals in Hoosier Rocks by Thomas Perry (560.9772 Per); Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fossils by Ida Thompson (560.973 Tho); Before the Dinosaurs: The Mysteries of Indiana’s Fossil History by Richard Seltzer (560.9772 Sel) or Sugar Creek: Through the Years and How It Developed by Helen Collar (RL 551 Col).
So, in celebration of National Fossil Day, you can hug a paleontologist, check out local rock-hounding events or fossil programs, or visit your nearest National or State Park. You can even have your own fossil hunt, right along the banks of Sugar Creek. Happy National Fossil Day Mont Co!
