Fossils dating back millions of years found near Grahamstown
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Blasting and excavation for road works near Grahamstown has unearthed a treasure trove of fossils dating back millions of years.
Paleontologist, Dr Robert Gess says the discovery two weeks ago is significant as many species have not yet been documented or described in academic literature.
Gess, a heritage consultant for SA National Roads Agency Limited, says they found a number of invertebrates and excellently preserved plant fossils of the Devonian era.
The fossils were found during blasting for the new portion of the N-2 between Grahamstown and Fish River on a Sanral road construction site.
Gess, a scholar at the Albany Museum, says the fossilised remains are of life in a marine coastal environment when South Africa was part of the super continent Gondwana, some 360 million years ago.
Paleontologist, Dr Robert Gess says the discovery two weeks ago is significant as many species have not yet been documented or described in academic literature.
Gess, a heritage consultant for SA National Roads Agency Limited, says they found a number of invertebrates and excellently preserved plant fossils of the Devonian era.
The fossils were found during blasting for the new portion of the N-2 between Grahamstown and Fish River on a Sanral road construction site.
Gess, a scholar at the Albany Museum, says the fossilised remains are of life in a marine coastal environment when South Africa was part of the super continent Gondwana, some 360 million years ago.
