Mystery Fossil on Display at Museum
Beginning Friday, Aug. 6, a mystery fossil will be on public display at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, 1747 Summer St.
The discovery was made by fossil finder George Hrynewich in June on the south shore of Minas Basin. No one has been able to determine yet if the fossil, estimated to be 225 million to 235 million years old, is a dinosaur or a new reptile.
The fossil is an exceptionally well-preserved specimen that has been partially exposed from a 115-kilogram block of red sandstone. The initial preparation revealed part of a skull, vertebrae and foot bones. The animal was about the size of a large dog.
In late August, the fossil will be taken to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto for further preparation and identification by paleontologist Dr. Hans Dieter-Sues. Dr. Dieter-Sues has already received and examined a portion of the jaw.
"The new fossil has teeth unlike those of any other known extinct reptile and definitely represents a species new to science," said Dr. Dieter-Sues. "Preparation of the fossil is necessary to establish the affinities of this animal."
After identification is completed the fossil will return to the Nova Scotia Museum.
Nova Scotia's fossil record is internationally important, attracting researchers from around the world. However, finding fossils in our area can be difficult. It takes a trained eye, patience and incredible determination.
"It is because of people like Mr. Hrynewich that important Nova Scotian paleotological evidence is discovered," said Debra Burleson, director of the Museum of Natural History. "George's work and the relationships he has established with the Museum of Natural History and the Royal Ontario Museum have helped unravel some of the Triassic-Jurassic mysteries of this province."
Mr. Hrynewich is a naval weapons technician on board HMCS St. John's. During his free time he is a palaeotological researcher. In order to do his fossil finding, Mr. Hrynewich holds a heritage research permit under Nova Scotia's Special Places Protection Act, and he was recently awarded a Nova Scotia Museum research grant to collect and prepare procolophonids, small reptiles from the Triassic-Jurassic period.
"He gives generously of his time and his efforts are outstanding. The museum is happy to support his scientific investigations and acknowledges his valuable contributions," said Ms. Burleson.
Mr. Hrynewich has developed friendships with amateur and professional palaeontologists around the continent. Recently, Dr. Paul Olsen of Columbia University helped him extract the remaining fossils at the discovery site.
"It is so exciting to think that I have unearthed something that lived so long ago, and that this is the first time in millions of years that it has seen the light of day," said Mr. Hrynewich.