Friday 18 February 2011

JURASSIC SCREWS

Imprints of fossils which have fallen from rock.  (Portland Stone.)

The long triangular ones were probably Portland Screws (Aptyxiella portlandica) - gastropods of the late Jurassic Era.
If so, they lived more than 144 million years ago.


This post is for The Weekend in Black and White

20 comments:

nouvelles couleurs - vienna atelier said...

very intresting, well done

Hermes said...

What we leave behind eh! Wonderful photo.

Mo said...

Fascinating

Unknown said...

Oh, this is just a fabulous photo, Lucy. One of your very finest. Just inspires the imagination. And should humble us humans who have not walked here all that long.

fer said...

Beautiful photo! I always like finding the little fossils. Back at my country they are easy to spot in the desert

fer said...

Beautiful photo! I always like finding the little fossils. Back at my country they are easy to spot in the desert

Anonymous said...

It gives one a funny feeling, such imprints of once living things. I like the little yin-yang shapes where the shells have been sectioned laterally.

I'm afraid nothing happened next! The woven thing didn't get much further and looked a bit like some kind of crazy hat.

Lui said...

Hmmm, interesting imprints!

John said...

A 'natural' abstract.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Wonderful arty imprint of life that lingers through time!

James said...

Amazing! I love the patterns.

Dragonstar said...

I love the look of fossils - life remembered by stone.

Pat Tillett said...

that is so awesome looking! Nice photo Lucy!

Carver said...

That's such an interesting and beautiful shot too. I like the way fossils of all kinds look and they are good subjects for photography.

Chuck said...

That is a really cool shot, Lucy. I still say you have a great eye.

Jidhu Jose said...

classic shot

Johnny Nutcase said...

very cool! There's a place in Texas where I come across rocks like this pretty often, always love seeing them!

Anonymous said...

Lovely.
Regards Halina

Lucy Corrander : Photos said...

Hello Nouvelles Couleurs. I find these fossil remains fascinating too.

Hermes - these were before us!

They are fascinating, Mo!

Hello Jodi - I'm specially pleased you like this photo. There are many fossils along the Dorset coast, constantly being released from the cliffs by the tide. In some ways we become blase - they are so common. On the other hand, one is struck by awe every time one goes for a walk! I was a bit concerned that this picture looked a bit text-bookish for the blog so your comment is specially welcome!

Fer - it would be amazing to find fossils in the desert. I would guess they are very different from the marine creatures we find here. (?)

Kitty, these 'Portland Screws' were curly shelled - a bit like modern whelks I would guess.

Hello Lui - your comment is enigmatic.

Hello John. I was a little tempted to draw out the abstract nature of this photograph by increasing the contrast - but realised many people may not be familiar with the real things. Now I have put this here, I may heighten the contrast another time.

Hello Greyscale Territory - the timescale is awe inspiring.

Hello James. By chance, the shells have been pressed down almost into a wheel shape in one section.

Hello Dragonstar - there were so many. I imagine they sank to the bottom over time. (That's an assumption.)

Hello Pat - 'awesome' is accurate.

Hello Carver. Unfortunately I haven't come across any ichthyosaurs yet. They would be truly fantastic subject matter!

Thanks Chuck.

Johnny Nutcase - do you ever show them on your blog?

Thanks Jidhu Jose too.

Thanks for your visit, Halina.

Lucy

BLOGitse said...

Great shot...you know I love b&w pics...
Have a great week!