At the Caroline County Visitor Center a group of individuals enter the lobby with dirt on their hands, in the beds of their fingernails and on their clothes. These individuals are not lost visitors who have been playing in the mud all morning, but are members of the Geological Society of America who are participating in a paleontology dig on March 29 as part of the Society’s regional conference held in Richmond on March 30.
“As part of all the Geological conferences they typically do field trips to the surrounding area, so having the Carmel Church fossil site that close to Richmond is very convenient for this,” Dr. Alex Hastings, Assistant Curator of Paleontology for the Virginia Museum of Natural History stated.
The site that Hastings is referring to is the Martin Marietta Carmel Church Quarry. This is the same site where the 14 million-year-old fossil whale species named Eobalaenoptera harrisoni was discovered in 1990 by Dr. Alton Dooley and other scientist from the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
On the March 29 dig, the group of diggers continue to find fossils of marine animals and other animals. “We find a large, large number of fossil shark teeth. We found bones from fossil whales. We found one from a dugong, which is like a manatee yesterday. We found a crocodile,” Hastings expressed.
This is an experience that these participating members of the Geological Society of America will have with them forever.
“Well, it’s an exciting experience. I’ve always wanted to come to this particular quarry. I’m pleased at all of this. I’m actually an oceanographer, but I came along to learn something new,” said Peter Vott of Calvert County, Maryland.
The county was just as excited to host these individuals on this paleontological experience. The Caroline County Visitor Center pulled out the welcome mat for these guests by providing lunch and welcoming them to Caroline.
“So thrilled that you are here! It’s great that you’re doing what you’re doing. We have, what I think you’ve been told is one of the best paleontological sites east of the Mississippi. It is a fantastic location to find all sorts of great things, including Eobalaenoptera. You should have one for your own home, we have one here,” Gary Wilson, Director Caroline County Economic Development exclaimed.
The dig was a success for all and will continue to build the relationship between the Virginia Museum of Natural History located in Martinsville, Virginia. and Caroline County.
“This place is still highly productive. This is a great site and it will yield great stuff for many, many more years. It’s a real treasure,” Hastings expressed.
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