Courtesy of YouTube, I have recently been following a pair of Yorkshire lads who are skilled fossil hunters. They explore remote North Yorkshire beaches - invariably on the look out for stone nodules that may contain ammonites. These nodules are often contained within layers of shale that were formed millions of years ago in warm, tropical seas.
Unusually, in the half hour video that follows there are no spoken words. It's just one of the young fossil hunters searching the beach for promising nodules and then splitting them open with his hammer. Sometimes there's absolutely nothing within but often he finds an ammonite - viewed for the very first time by human eyes.
I found it all rather mesmerising. In fact, I have occasionally considered passing an hour or two on a remote Yorkshire beach searching for ammonites myself. The "Yorkshire Fossils" videos give you a good idea of what to look out for.
It's a rather intriguing activity. I HAVE FOUND A FEW ARROWHEADS AND HAMMERS.
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is that!
ReplyDeleteI watched the first minute and saw the first ammonite, very pretty it was too. But I couldn't possibly sit through a half hour of that.
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating to think of those long time spaces, too long for me to get my head round. The little ammonite was happily floating about in the warm shallow waters until the end of its life, and had no idea that it would end up decorating the home of a himan being - a species that was not to appear on this planet until many millions of years later.
ReplyDeleteI thought as you recently had a birthday, you were writing about yourself!! If ever you fancy a holiday in Lyme Regis there are a lot there - ammonites, I mean. Not old people.
ReplyDeleteWe used to find quite a lot in Hornsea.
ReplyDeleteFossil hunting would add a new dimension to your walks and time outside.
ReplyDeleteThat first fossil looks like a hamburger! It's interesting that they make their videos without any narration. I haven't seen that technique used before by "vloggers." Normally they're yakking away and you just want to kill them! The silent approach is much more pleasant.
ReplyDeleteThere is something which I feel is indescribable about holding something so old in one's hands.
ReplyDeleteI thought you would be writing about yourself, given the title:)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to read that your ammonite is so small, but I'm sure it is well loved.
Fossils are cool.
ReplyDelete