Mysterious black object.

18 comments

In my previous blog, I asked if anyone could guess what the mysterious black object in front of my my vase of flowers was and there were a few good guesses.

Well, all can be revealed!

The object is in fact a stone sculpture that has been hand carved to reveal several fossils of ORTHOCERAS. This creature lived millions of years ago and was a cephalopod, a creature very similar to the squid. They lived inside elongated shells which is what is preserved in the stone. This fossil is approximately 390 million years old!

This particular specimen is from Morocco.
It is a real talking point with visitors to the house.

I have mentioned previously that I collect fossils so I thought I would show you some more of my collection.

These next lot actually came out of the gravel that we use in the outdoor flights of the aviaries at work. You get them in most types of mixed gravel.
They are crinoids, extinct marine animals similar to the feather stars and sea lilies of today. The fossilised sections that can be found are the the part of the stem that was attached to a rock or other surface.

The next photos show a couple of small fossilised shells that I found in the gravel on the top of my raised beds!

These next photos show some Belemnites: squid like creatures that lived over 150 million years ago. Unlike the Orthoceras, the fossils that are found are of the mantle, the main body of the Belemnite.

Next are photos of a stone I found which I have been told contains sea creatures!

Whilst on holiday in Norfolk, I found these fossillised sea urchins on the local beach (cant remember which beach).

The next fossil is a dinosaur tooth I found, again in Norfolk.

Finally, some photos of Trevor. Now Trevor is about 380 -390 million years old and comes from the Atlas mountains in Morocco.
Trevor is a Trilobite.

So there you have it.
For those of you who like garden ornaments of an unusual nature, you can buy large fossils to put outside in the garden. Now, if I can just be cured of my plant buying addiction, I might be able to save up for one….

Happy gardening!!

11 Jul, 2011
12 likes

Comments

Nana_d

They are really amazing think my favourite is the first one but as you say it is stopping the plant buying first to save pennies for the ornaments, lovely blog:)

11 Jul, 2011

Stickitoffee

These are fabulous, I like Trevor but I like the first one best, lovely collection, interesting blog and such a good idea for the photograph quiz - many thanks GD.

Btw, how many weeks now till your holiday?

11 Jul, 2011

Geraniumdad

Thank you! 18 days and counting: we leave for the Lake district on Friday 29th and drive the rest of the way on the saturday.

11 Jul, 2011

Stickitoffee

That's not long at all now! For two weeks? I hope you get some good weather. It's a long journey but it's beautiful and definitely worth it! Sailing from Uig, Skye?

11 Jul, 2011

Geraniumdad

Yes, 2 weeks and sailing from Uig. We stayed in Uig last year and watched the ferry go in and out. Then on the way back, staying in the lake district for the Saturday night and popping into Larch cottage nursery on the way back home on the Sunday......

11 Jul, 2011

Stickitoffee

You will be back in the lake district the day my son gets married! Think I shall need a holiday on Harris after that. I'm going to look up larch cottage nursery - haven't heard of it, will you have any room for the plants in the car?

11 Jul, 2011

Geraniumdad

Oh yes, plenty of room. The nursery is in a very small village. There is an art gallery and extensive gardens you can get lost in. The tea room/restuarant is pricey but the food is delicious! The chocolate cake is fantastic!!
There is a superb range of plants on offer as well at very good prices.

11 Jul, 2011

Hywel

Thanks for showing these. Fossils are so interesting. I've got a few myself.

12 Jul, 2011

Rogi

When my father worked in the ironstone quarry´s near Corby Northants in the 1960´s he used to find loads of fossils..they were a very common object to be found there, he would bring them home and they would be put on the rockery...always looked nice among the plants.

12 Jul, 2011

Stickitoffee

That nursery sounds an excellent place to visit, nice way to end a holiday too. Not so many trees on Harris so you wouldn't be buying a tree to remember your holiday!

I want to go back to the lakes sometime, this gives me another good reason- especially the chocolate cake!

12 Jul, 2011

Lincslass

Fascinating, most of us walk on them and rarely take a second glance unless a special one takes the eye.
Thanks for sharing the info with us I`m off to raid my gravelled beach in front of my pond....

12 Jul, 2011

Stickitoffee

Isn't Lyme bay famous for fossils? There is a Tracy chevalier book based on a lady finding fossils, I enjoyed it.

12 Jul, 2011

Oliveoil

Brilliant loved your blog - not into fossils have enough with me and the OH in this house lol. But I love finding things like that lying around. I can remember when I went to Whitby seeing the children in the next tent to ours getting so so excited because they had been on a fossil hunt and found fossils in the cliffs. Great blog amazing pictures loved it. I too like the picture of the first one but they are all so good. Very educational - love Trevor the mind boggles when you see something as old as that. thank you

12 Jul, 2011