Cave lion skull among finds brought to fossil experts at Elgin Museum drop-in event
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FOSSIL specimens from around the globe – including the skull of a prehistoric cave lion – were brought in to Elgin Museum for identification by experts last weekend.
More than 70 people visited the museum on Saturday, October 23, with around 25 dropping in to learn more about their fossil finds.
Palaeontologists Dr Nick Fraser and Dr Davide Foffa, from National Museums Scotland, and local fossil-fish expert Bob Davidson were on hand to help at the Fossil Finders' event.
Dr Alison Wright, Elgin Museum Geology Group volunteer, said: "It was great to have so many young people come in with their fossils for identification. Dr Fraser described the event as 'inspiring'.
"Finds included a pebble of shelly limestone from Cummingston beach and a weathered piece of reptile rib found on holiday in the USA.
"We also had pieces of Spanish roofing slate containing brachiopods and fossil wood from Helmsdale and from Arizona.
"Another find was picked up in 1962 by a then schoolboy and the owner, now retired, still uses the rock as a paperweight.
"The most surprising item brought in was the skull of a cave lion found in a stream bed in Wiltshire. Details of this item will be passed to the Natural History Museum."
Rock specimens picked up by the museum's Geology Group were also examined by the visiting palaeontologists. Several of these will now be added to the collection.
Meanwhile, Mr Davidson, a freelance oil well engineer, has generously donated one of his own finds to the museum. His find is currently being reviewed but could prove to be highly significant.
Mr Davidson has been researching Scottish Devonian fossil sites for 25 years.
Visitors were given information about the Scottish Fossil Code, which encourages responsible collecting.
Dr Fraser is Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland and gave the go-ahead for the museum's loan of the Elginerpeton fossils held in Edinburgh.
Dr Foffa is nearing the end of a three-year project at National Museums Scotland researching the Elgin Reptiles.
The Fossil Finders Drop-in was funded by Museums Galleries Scotland and supported by National Museums Scotland.
