Date: September 21, 2019 Time: 12:30 – 2:30pm
Come and learn about fossils in your area from a paleontologist. Join Assistant Curator, Derek Larson and learn about Alberta’s fossil heritage. Bring your fossils along for identification.Fossil ID Day will take place in the Alliance Pipeline Education Wing. This is a free drop-in event, admission to the Museum is extra.The museum is not seeking fossil donations at this time, though individuals interested in donating their collections are encouraged to contact the museumWHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I FIND A FOSSIL?
Palaeontologists often rely on people from their local communities to inform them of new finds. If you are lucky enough to find a fossil such as a dinosaur bone or leaf impression, these are the steps you should take to ensure it is safe and can help with scientific research:- LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS. Also, much information is lost if a bone is removed from where it came, it may be broken, and other important clues left behind. It is actually illegal to excavate dinosaur fossils in Canada without a permit.
- RECORD THE LOCATION. The best way to record the spot is with a GPS (most smartphones now have this ability, even without a cellular connection). Also take pictures of the fossil and note any nearby features that you might use to re-locate the spot.
- CONTACT A PALAEONTOLOGIST. Contact our palaeontologist Derek Larson at dlarson@dinomuseum.ca if you think you may have found something. If you have photos, they may be able to identify it immediately. Alternatively, they may need to visit the site and even make a full-scale excavation!