AA-2026-4DD894
On the image
A specialised geological hammer lies amongst scattered rocks, an artefact of human endeavour in the 1970s. People would spend hours, sometimes days, looking at dirt and rocks with a very specific tool designed for maximum rock-hitting efficiency.
The ground is littered with small, broken pieces of stone and what seem to be countless bullet-shaped belemnite fossils. These are the internal skeletons of ancient squid-like creatures that once swam oceans, long before anyone cared enough to invent a hammer specifically for geological purposes.
This implies someone stopped their important rock-tapping work, perhaps to consider the vastness of time encapsulated in their findings, or more likely, because it was time for a sandwich. The hammer patiently waits for its next interaction with the indifferent remnants of a prehistoric world.
The historian's note
The image documents a geological field site from the 1970s, characterised by rocky ground abundant in belemnite fossils. Belemnites were marine cephalopods related to modern squids and cuttlefish, thriving during the Mesozoic Era. Their bullet-shaped internal shells (guards) are common fossils in sedimentary rocks worldwide.
Geological hammers, also known as rock hammers or pick hammers, are essential tools for field geologists and palaeontologists. They are used for breaking rocks to expose fresh surfaces, collect samples, and excavate fossils.
Such sites are vital for scientific research, offering insights into ancient marine environments, the evolution of life, and geological stratigraphy. This photograph captures a typical scene from palaeontological fieldwork during the era, highlighting the practical aspects of geological investigation.
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Geological Hammer and Belemnite Fossils, 1970s Fieldwork. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-4DD894. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/geological-hammer-and-belemnite-fossils-1970s-fieldwork.
@misc{aaAA20264DD894,
title = {Geological Hammer and Belemnite Fossils, 1970s Fieldwork},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-4DD894},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/geological-hammer-and-belemnite-fossils-1970s-fieldwork}
}TY - ART TI - Geological Hammer and Belemnite Fossils, 1970s Fieldwork PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-4DD894 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/geological-hammer-and-belemnite-fossils-1970s-fieldwork ER -
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