10 Sept 2024

Dingwall Museum donates fossil specimens

Written by Rachael MacRae

Two rocks have been split open and are displayed side by side on a piece of white tissue paper. Inside each rock is a fossilised creature. On the left, it looks a bit like a large beetle. On the right, it looks like a squashed thin butterfly.

Two Diplacanthus fossils from Cromarty beach

Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum has welcomed a donation of fossils from Dingwall Museum that is set to delight visitors to the former home of the renowned Scottish geologist.

We will share the fossil specimens found on the Cromarty foreshore and around the Black Isle when they go on display for the Scottish Geology Festival from Wednesday 3 September to Sunday 13 October. This nicely coincides with Hugh Miller’s 222nd birthday on 10 October. Access to the small exhibition is included in the museum admission fee (free for members of the National Trust for Scotland).

The collection of 24 fossils span two historical eras, from Lake Orcadie of the Devonian period to the coastal lagoon of the Jurassic period, and will be on display alongside other artefacts and objects from Hugh Miller’s life. The donation includes an example of a Pterichthyodes milleri, named after Hugh Miller who first discovered this type of fossil on the Cromarty foreshore. This ancient fish had a head and body that was covered with bony armour and lived at the bottom of lakes, scavenging food from the lake floor.

A dark stone has been split open to show white fossil outlines of ammonites, bivalves and coral. It is displayed on a sheet of white tissue paper.

A brown stone has been split open to show the black fossil outline of an ancient fish-like animal. The scales are very well-preserved. It is displayed on a sheet of white tissue paper.

Debbie Reid, Visitor Services Manager at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum, said: ‘We are thrilled to receive these fossils from Dingwall Museum. The fossils will form part of our celebrations for the Scottish Geology Festival and will be a very welcome addition to our handling collection. The team at the museum is busy cataloguing the donated fossils and ensuring they’re in display condition as they make their debut at the museum in September.’

Quote

“The fossils will be used as a handling collection, allowing visitors to get up close with the fossils and see intricate details – from tiny fish scales to delicate coral. We hope the new collection will encourage the community to explore Hugh Miller’s story and discover more of the Black Isle and its story of incredible geodiversity.”

Debbie Reid

Visitor Services Manager

Stonemason, geologist, writer and social justice campaigner, Hugh Miller was born inside a thatched cottage in Cromarty in the early 19th century. Starting from humble beginnings, he became one of Victorian Britain’s greatest minds as well as a leading voice of the Scottish people.

Donations like this help to support the National Trust for Scotland’s vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, as outlined in our strategy, and contributes to our objectives to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.

Find out more about events taking place during the Scottish Geology Festival