In a discovery that will give hope to grey nomad gem hunters and fossil hunters everywhere, two Queensland families holidaying in the state’s outback have unearthed an archaeological treasure trove.
The Johnston family from Margate and the Amos family from Agnes Water unearthed a series of fossils dating back more than 100 million years while they were digging about at a free fossil finding site just outside Richmond in north-west Queensland.
Dr Patrick Smith, curator of Richmond’s Kronosaurus Korner told the ABC that the swordfish-like fossil, thought to be from the Australopachycormus hurleyi, was extremely exciting.
“The anterior portion is almost near complete, it has most of the skull, and we have things like its backbone and its fins, as well,” he said. “To find such a rare fish, near complete, is almost unheard out here.”
What is even more remarkable was that the discovery was made at a well-used free finding site.
“The tractors had driven through, ripped up the soil, and as they ripped up the ground they pulled up bits and pieces of this fish,” he said. “A family came along and found part of the fish one week, and the other part was actually found a week later when another family came through.”
Many of the fossils at the Kronosaurus Korner museum have been discovered by travellers, and exhibits range from big dolphin-like reptiles like the Ichthyosaurs, to giant fish three metres long, and even small tiny fish with perfect series of vertebrae and tails.
The unexpected discovery comes just a couple of months after a traveller stumbled across previously unnoticed dinosaur ‘footprints’ near Broome’s Cable Beach.
· Have you ever found a fossil or gem on your travels? Do you look for them? Comment below.
