Many fossil collectors will tell you that there’s a story behind each of their finds. They also have one or two specimens in their collection that are their favorite. I would like to share my story on my favorite fossil find.
It was April 2001, the second year in a row that the Dry Dredgers scheduled a fieldtrip at the Maysville, Kentucky roadcut. The weather was perfect for collecting- sunny and not too hot or muddy. If you have ever collected at this location, determining where to start your search can be overwhelming. After looking up and picking a spot, I remember walking up a small grade on the side road and then hiking up a grassy hill that led to the uppermost strata of the cut on the main road. Another Dry Dredger member, Steve Felton, was there and had an area cordoned off with string and garden stakes and was using a shovel to dig into the hillside. I passed him and walked a few yards away and started my search. After finding a few crinoid calyxes and several species of bryozoans, I spied something sticking out of the hillside. One end of a fossil specimen was sticking out of the soft gray clay. I took a butter knife and dug the specimen out of the clay and hillside. After I examined it closer, I thought I knew its identity, but a short time later, Steve came over and he confirmed that it was a Conularia formosa specimen. I took it home and cleaned it using a toothbrush and hand soap. The preservation of this specimen is most impressive. Fine details are easily seen without the use of a hand lens. It was not touched with an air abrasive. The photos are taken on a black velvet background with a smartphone camera.
Debby Scheid
A native to the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I started collecting fossils when I was nine years old. There was a subdivision being developed in a wooded area behind our property that became a perfect spot for collecting well preserved Ordovician fossils. When our school fieldtrips included visits to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, it gave me the opportunity to match my finds with the fossil displays. Also, the Museum’s gift shop provided additional information on local fossils and I purchased my first field guide there.
I joined the Dry Dredgers in 1988 when my daughter was old enough to attend the meetings with me. Since then, I have held several chair positions: Membership Chair, Education Chair, and my current position of Recording Secretary. I love being a Dry Dredgers member because it provides many opportunities to learn more about the local fossils and strata.
Latest posts by Debby Scheid (see all)
- The Story Behind My Favorite Find: A Maysvillian Conularia - November 27, 2020
Nice specimen, Debby!