The Alabama Museum of Natural History hosted its annual ‘Alabama Fossil Fest’ at Smith Hall on Saturday. The event allowed visitors to explore hundreds of new fossils and view the unveiling of the museum’s newest centerpiece exhibit.
Fourteen tables were set up in the main gallery of the museum, each providing a look at a different collection of fossils or providing an educational activity. Six of the tables were by the museum, while the other eight were by other organizations or private collectors, including the Elevation Science Institute, the Alabama Paleontological Society, the Birmingham Paleontological Society and the Geological Survey of Alabama.
During the tabling, the museum unveiled its latest exhibit: 175 fossilized bones from a Deinosuchus schwimmeri — a massive, prehistoric crocodile — and a replicated version of its skull.
“That crocodile is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. I don’t know what I’d do if I saw something like that alive,” said Miriam Hill, a sophomore majoring in marine biology. “I don’t think I want to go into paleontology as a career, but it’s nice to keep up with the research and different findings.”
The D. schwimmeri’s species was discovered by and named after Fossil Fest’s keynote speaker, David Schwimmer, a professor of earth and space science at Columbus State University.
The Fossil Fest was held at the Museum of Natural History on Saturday. (CW / Hannah Grace Mayfield)Adiël Klompmaker, the curator of paleontology in the Department of Museum Research and Collections, said the team had been “sitting” on the exhibit since mid-June, but “knew it would be ready about this time.”
“People really love to talk about their fossils. Behind every fossil is a story. They found the each specimen, and they want to share what it means to them,” Klompmaker said. “Often, they just want to convey their enthusiasm to the younger generation.”
Admission to the museum was free for the event. UA students and families from across Alabama alike attended to get a closer look at the fossils.
A child checks out a rock at the Fossil Fest hosted by the UA Natural History Museum. (CW / Shawn Canale)“I loved the Fossil Fest. It’s so cool seeing all the different fossils you can find in Alabama,” said Emma Bosarge, a freshman majoring in psychology who works at the museum. “I love doing this kind of stuff. Paleontology or any kind of history is really cool. Everyone should get involved in the museum. We always want new people, and it’s super fun and a cool experience.”
Klompmaker said last year’s Fossil Fest had at least 200 attendees, while this year there were estimated to be around 300.
“It’s the biggest fossil event we have in the state, as far as I know. People can interact with real paleontologists here,” Klompmaker said. “There are so many people interested. This could be the event that inspires young people to become the future of paleontology.”
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