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An event 300 million years in the making

The fossilized remains of Hylonomus lyelli, the earliest occurrence of reptilian life discovered and only found at Joggins, is coming home to the Joggins Fossil Centre. The 312-year-old fossil will be unveiled at the centre on April 23. Contributed

Published on March 30, 2011; Published on March 30, 2011
Andrew Wagstaff

Topics :: Joggins Fossil Centre , UNESCO , Nova Scotia House of Assembly , Joggins , Nova Scotia

JOGGINS - The most important fossil ever discovered at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site is coming home to the Joggins Fossil Centre.

The fossilized remains of Hylonomus lyelli, the earliest occurrence of reptilian life discovered and only found at Joggins, is coming home to the Joggins Fossil Centre. In 2002, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly declared the 312-million-year-old Hylonomus lyelli fossil as Nova Scotia's provincial fossil.

"It really mark that transition of when animals with backbones, like ourselves, could live on the land without living in the water," said Dr. Melssa Grey, curator of palaeontology at the Joggins Fossil Centre.

Even though Hylonomus lyelli is recognized as Nova Scotia's provincial fossil, there are no other Hylonomous fossils on display in the province now, making its appearance in Joggins this year all the more significant.

(For the full story, see the April 2 issue of The Citizen)

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