Fossil stumps sealed with an eye on future

Submitted by vicky on Wednesday, 15 October 2003 Page Views: 1560

Sheffield's most precious fossils are to be preserved for good - by sealing them off from the general public. Fossil trees 300 million years old lie in the grounds of the former Middlewood Hospital, now being turned into a major housing estate.

But action has had to be taken as the remains of the ancient forest have suffered from vandalism and theft in recent years. Experts were worried that the tree stumps, first discovered in 1887 and unique in Britain, would be lost forever.

Now a conservation project has been launched by English Nature, Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust and the archaeological unit of Sheffield University.

The fossils will be covered up and preserved - but will still be safe if they need to be re-examined in future. There are plans for a display showing what is on the site, and a mould has been made from one of the best preserved stumps. From that replicas will be made, to go on show in the refurbished Weston Park Museum when it reopens in 2005.

Gaynor Boon, curator of Earth Sciences at the Museum, has been working at the site for the last 18 years. She has been uncovering and recording every tree, which are rated as some of the oldest and most significant fossils ever discovered.

"Excavation and conservation work began in October last year to ensure the long-term preservation of these historic finds," she said. The stumps were first discovered during excavations to build foundations for part of the old hospital.

They were largely forgotten for a century, before work began in the area by staff from the City Museum in 1985.

In the late 1980s volunteers uncovered the fossils and their true value was realised. English Nature subsequently designated the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

English Nature scientist John Larwood said the site would now be conserved for future generations.

"There is no doubt that this is the most important site of fossil trees ever to have been discovered in this country," he added.

The city's Parks Department is to now adopt the area and turn it into a public open space with interpretation boards and replicas.

Source: Sheffield Today 15 October 2003

Contributor Bio for vicky: Ex Megalithic Portal Editor, Co-author of 'Rock Around the Peak - Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District' and... More

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