GeorgiasFossils.com
To Further
Science Education
in Georgia.
By; Thomas Thurman
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28/Oct/2023
This was sent to me by
Dr. David Schwimmer
at Columbus State University.
I post it here with his blessings.
Last week I took a paleo class for a brief field trip to two famous Late Cretaceous sites in west Georgia, the Frog Bottom outcrop on Rt. 27 and the Hitchitee Creek bridge site. I have some observations on both I’d like to share.
First, at Frog Bottom, I had the same experience that I understand the PAG had on their recent field trip: a local authority (in this case a game warden with the DNR) told us we had to leave. I spoke with him a while and got some information on why now (after more than two decades, in my experience) this is an issue. Apparently, the DOT is concerned with erosion at the site. He gave me information on who to contact for a permit to collect there: however, I have my doubts that will work, since we are essentially intending to “erode” the outcrop to find fossils. I’m not sure how to proceed on this for my spring class, but I will update when I get some information from the DOT. To some degree, the heavy collecting at this site has triggered the official reaction.
My second observation is the situation at Hitchitee Creek, where I have collected with classes and researchers for literally 4 decades. Simply, the site is now over-collected and may actually become unproductive in the future. The fossiliferous outcrop has been reduced to less than half its original extent. In years past one could easily collect a bushel of Exogyra ponderosa in a short time…but there was no reason to do so! I told my students to take only one specimen of Exogyra each. I’m trying to say, please, at productive sites, whether it’s shark teeth, oysters, trilobites, whatever, take a specimen or two, not a dozen. This applies to all fossil collecting unless you are doing research that justifies large samples, say of species diversity or variability. There is no virtue in collecting masses of the same species: leave the outcrop and fossils for others to enjoy. They are not a renewable resource, and he or she who has the most fossils does not necessarily win.
We have seen some of the best, road-accessible fossil sites in Georgia, become unavailable (e.g. Tibbs Bridge, now Frog Bottom, possibly the Ringgold outcrop) because of overuse. I urge people to consider leaving some fossil collecting options for the future.
Thank you.
Dr. David Schwimmer
Columbus State University
This was sent to me by
Dr. David Schwimmer
at Columbus State University.
I post it here with his blessings.
Last week I took a paleo class for a brief field trip to two famous Late Cretaceous sites in west Georgia, the Frog Bottom outcrop on Rt. 27 and the Hitchitee Creek bridge site. I have some observations on both I’d like to share.
First, at Frog Bottom, I had the same experience that I understand the PAG had on their recent field trip: a local authority (in this case a game warden with the DNR) told us we had to leave. I spoke with him a while and got some information on why now (after more than two decades, in my experience) this is an issue. Apparently, the DOT is concerned with erosion at the site. He gave me information on who to contact for a permit to collect there: however, I have my doubts that will work, since we are essentially intending to “erode” the outcrop to find fossils. I’m not sure how to proceed on this for my spring class, but I will update when I get some information from the DOT. To some degree, the heavy collecting at this site has triggered the official reaction.
My second observation is the situation at Hitchitee Creek, where I have collected with classes and researchers for literally 4 decades. Simply, the site is now over-collected and may actually become unproductive in the future. The fossiliferous outcrop has been reduced to less than half its original extent. In years past one could easily collect a bushel of Exogyra ponderosa in a short time…but there was no reason to do so! I told my students to take only one specimen of Exogyra each. I’m trying to say, please, at productive sites, whether it’s shark teeth, oysters, trilobites, whatever, take a specimen or two, not a dozen. This applies to all fossil collecting unless you are doing research that justifies large samples, say of species diversity or variability. There is no virtue in collecting masses of the same species: leave the outcrop and fossils for others to enjoy. They are not a renewable resource, and he or she who has the most fossils does not necessarily win.
We have seen some of the best, road-accessible fossil sites in Georgia, become unavailable (e.g. Tibbs Bridge, now Frog Bottom, possibly the Ringgold outcrop) because of overuse. I urge people to consider leaving some fossil collecting options for the future.
Thank you.
Dr. David Schwimmer
Columbus State University
Below
Thomas Thurman
Tivola Limestone, Houston County, GA
Thomas Thurman
Tivola Limestone, Houston County, GA
Guest essays by
Henry N. Josey, PharmD.,
William (Bill) McLemore,
Burt Carter PhD.,
William (Bill) Montante,
&
Paul F. Huddlestun PhD.
Henry N. Josey, PharmD.,
William (Bill) McLemore,
Burt Carter PhD.,
William (Bill) Montante,
&
Paul F. Huddlestun PhD.
Questions?
Contact; Thomas Thurman
GeorgiasFossils@aol.com
Contact; Thomas Thurman
GeorgiasFossils@aol.com