Fossil Road Show is coming to New Albany

New Albany, MS-Fossils, the history of fossil collecting, great specimens, gems and minerals will all be at the annual Fossil Road Show in New Albany this Saturday, June 11 at the Union County Heritage Museum from 10 until 2.

The ancient past is set in stone in Union County and the region , and the museum has permanent exhibits that show this story, the Fossil Road Show gives visitors the opportunity to showcase private collections and hear from the experts the latest news in fossil finds in the region. If you would like to bring a collection, please do.

The echonoid is a fossil commonly found in Union County and the region. It’s a 65 million year old sea biscuit.

Mississippi was covered with an ancient sea, and many of the fossils found in the area reflect this time in the region’s past. There are also many fossil specimens found from the Pleistocene of Ice Age period. “We have tusks from the mastodons or giant elephants which once lived here that have been found in Union County. Teeth, tusks and claw are what remain of many of the fascinating Ice Age creatures which migrated here with mankind following about 12,000 years ago.

George Phillips State Paleontologist from the Museum of Natural Science will speak at 11 about “The History of Fossil Collecting in Mississippi. He and other experts such as Dr. Charles Swan of University of Mississippi will be available to identify specimens which are brought in by the public.

Paleontologist George Phillips from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is describing the state fossil which is a prehistoric whale.

“ If you’ve found something and you would like to know what it is and how it fits into the fossil history of the region, then you should come to this event, said Jill Smith , Museum Director. It’s free and made possible by our Community Partners.

Hunting fossils at the Blue Springs Fossil Site.

“So many people have found great fossils at the Blue Spring s Fossil Site as well as the creeks and ditches in Union County. We get calls regularly to identify things that are found here. Approximately 15 universities are studying fossils which have been found at the Blue Springs site,” she said. There have been dinosaur bones found there as well as a multitude of fossilized crab species and other sea creatures that tell of a different time in the area’s past.

Art piece by Carol Lybanon, of Memphis, who incorporates fossils and stained glass in her abstract pieces.

This is also a great time to come and see the Geode Cracker. He brings with him a selection of geodes filled with crystals. He has a machine that cracks the rocks so that they become showpieces filled with beautiful crystals. W.C. McDaniel with the Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society will be at the event with an array of gems, fossil and minerals. The North Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society will have a table to demonstrate their collections. Artist Carol Lybanon from Memphis will bring her work incorporating fossil and stained glass in abstract creations.

The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street in New Albany. The event is free. If you would like to bring a collection to display, please call and reserve a table at 662-538-0014.

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Jill N. Smith
Director
Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany, Mississippi 38652
662-538-0014
www.ucheritagemuseum.com