WHAT IS A FOSSIL, YOU ASK?


Definition from WEBESTER'S Dictionary
FOS.SIL 1.ANY HARDENED REMAINS OR TRACES OF PLANT OR ANIMAL LIFE OF SOME PAST GEOLOGICAL AGE, PRESERVED IN THE EARTH'S CRUST

My son's definition of a fossil?
ANYONE OVER AGE FORTY

My definition of a fossil?
WELL IF IT IS OLDER THAN I AM....

THESE DRILL SNAILS WERE FOUND IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ROANOKE RAPIDS, NORTH CAROLINA
THEY ARE ABOUT 5 MILLION YEARS OLD






THESE DENTALIUM SHELLS ARE FROM NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
THEY ARE ABOUT 5 MILLION YEARS OLD
THESE SHELLS ARE COMMONLY CALLED TUSK SHELLS






TURRITELLA SHELLS
SAME AGE AND LOCATION AS DENTALIUM






TURRITELA SHELLS COME IN AN AMAZING NUMBER OF SHAPES AND SIZES. THESE CASTS ARE ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THESE SHELLS FROM MARYLAND.





BELEMNITELLA AMERICANA (FOSSIL SQUID) FROM PITT COUNTY-CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SHOWS WHAT THESE ANCIENT SQUID MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE






EUTREPHOCERAS CAROLINENSIS -- THESE EOCENE CEPHALOPODS ARE FROM PENDER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA






THESE CASTS WERE FORMED WHEN ANIMALS (SUCH AS SHRIMP) BURROWED INTO THE GROUND. AFTER MILLIONS OF THE YEARS THE BURROWS HAVE HARDENED INTO ROCK






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