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Fossils Found in Tennessee Caves
The fossils on this page were found in caves in eastern-central Tennessee. Most, if not all, are from the Mississippian epoch of the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era of geologic history. The Mississippian epoch is one of two subdivisions of the Carboniferous Period, which occurred between the Devonian and Permian periods of the Paleozoic era. The other epoch of the Carboniferous period is the Pennyslavanian epoch. These sometimes highly fossiliferous limestones can yeild amazing and beautiful fossils.
Please don't send me emails asking how to locate these specific fossils. I wish to see these fossils remain in their natural state, embedded in the rocks where they currently reside. These fossils will be preserved for future generations to see and enjoy if I have any say in the matter. I follow the NSS motto: Take only photographs, leave only footprints ( as few of those as possible).
I want to extend a "Thank You" to Dr. Wayne Itano who provided much needed assistance with the identification of some of the fossils on this page.
Another way to demonstrate these Geologic relationships is as follows (Note: Ma=Million Years Ago):
Paleozoic era ( 542-251 Ma)
Periods in the Paleozoic era:
Cambrian (542-488 Ma), Ordovician (488-443 Ma), Silurian (443-416 Ma), Devonian (416-360 Ma), Carboniferous (360-299 Ma), Permian (299-251 Ma)
Epochs in the Carboniferous Period:
Mississippian (360-325 Ma), Pennsylvanian (325-299 Ma)
Most of not all fossils on this page are from the Mississippian epoch, thus dating from 325-360 million years old.
A bit of time perspective for you: Dinosaurs (some of the most successful creatures to ever live on Earth) roamed from 230 million years ago until their mass extinction 65 million years ago. The Supercontintent Pangea was in existence roughly 250 million years ago before plate tectonics broke it up into the continents we know today. Modern humans (Homo sapien) has been around about 130,000 years. Kind of puts things in perspective, huh?
Shark Spine from (probably) Acondylacanthus burlingtonesis.
This is a really great fossil. It took several months for me to find someone to identify it. Finally I located an expert on the subject, Dr. Wayne Itano who provided me with the info that I present to you now. This is a shark spine, probably from one of the dorsal fins from an ancient shark. The genus of the shark is probably Acondylacanthus, and the species may be burlingtonensis. See diagram below. This fossil is located in the Warsaw limestone formation, from the Mississippian epoch. It was found protruding from a cave wall. Notice the serrated edge and the parallel radial lines. Also the hollow core. I would like to provide some perspective on this fossil for you: Dinosaurs roamed the earth from 230 million years ago until about 65 million years ago. This fossil is somewhere in the neighborhood of 300-325 million years old. This up to 100 million years older than dinosaurs. More perspective: This fossil dates from before the breakup of the Supercontinent Pangea, believed to have existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The Earth was a vastly different place during this time. Remember, this was long before the dinosaurs. See this article for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangea
The above diagram indicates the location of Ctenacanthus and Acondylacanthus (and similar spined sharks) spines. The name Ctenacanthus means "comb spine" and obviously refers to the spines that are a characteristic of these genera of sharks. This photo and information liberated from the following website, which I highly recommend you read if you want to know more: http://www.oceansofkansas.com/ctenacanth.html
The above photo is of a modern day Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci). Note the dorsal spine in the photo. You are probably aware that sharks are some of the most successful creatures to ever live on Earth and have been around for over 450 million years. Most modern sharks can be traced back about 100 million years. By comparison, modern humans (Homo sapien) first appear in the fossil record about 130,000 years ago. Dinosaurs became extinct around 65 million years ago. Sharks predate even most plants, not to mention almost all animals. This species pictured above ranges off the coast of central California south to Baja California.
This is a shark tooth from (probably) an anceint genus of shark known as Saivodus. This is a newly named genus, and is associated wtih the Cladodus genus, in that both are considered members of Ctenacanthiformes. This genera of sharks were lumped into the genus of Ctenacanthus until very recently. A distinguishing characteristic of these sharks was the dorsal spine (see photos above) that featured many rows of small bumps, or nodes. This fossil was found in eastern-middle Tennessee, USA. It is located in the Warsaw limestone formation. The Warsaw formation was laid down during the Mississippian epoch of the Carboniferous period and refers to a layer of limestone located between the St. Louis layer and the Fort Payne layer. These layers were laid down by shallow seas during the Mississippian period of the Paleozoic era. These seas were characterized by profuse coral reefs and lots of sea life. The abundant carbon (the major component of all life on Earth, from trees to you and me) present in these shallow seas accounts for the formation of all the limestone in the region. Limestone is calcium-carbonate. In layterms, limestone is a bunch of dead coral and animals from millions of years ago, compressed into extremely compact layers over time. When you drive through Tennessee on I-40, and you pass through all the road-cuts through rock, all those layers and layers of gray rock that you drive past are limestone. Each layer is from a distinct period of time and composed of animals, corals, and plants of that period.
This is the same fossil featured in the photo above this one. It is probably from an unidentified species from the genus Saivodus, a member of the Ctenacanthus family.
This shark's tooth was found in the same cave ceiling as the fossils above. It is probably an indentified species of the genus Cladodus.
This is another shark's tooth found in the same ceiling as the ones above. Notice the presence of small, secondary cusplets on the sides of the tooth. Probably from a species within the genus Cladodus.
This is the calyx (feeding parts) of a crinoid. The "fingers" wave around in the water collecting food and when encountered they pull it towards the base where the food is digested. The bony arms supported feathery structures that fanned the water to collect food. The feathery structures do not fossilize well.
Crinoids still live in the oceans today. This is a modern photo of one. Photo credited to http://www.vsf.cape.com/~jdale/science/crinoid.jpg
This is a large crinoid stem. The calyx is located at the end of this stem. This stem represents the "body" of the crinoid. When I was a child we would find this relatively common fossil and refer to it as "Indian Money," which certainly is politically incorrect terminology now. I include the termonology to assist the reader in identifying the fossil from a reference they may share from the past.
The round fossil with the star in the middle is a crinoid stem cross-section. Most of the fossils in this photo are crinoids in various orientations. I am not sure what the fossil in the upper-right is. If you know, please feel free to contact me. Contact info is located above.
More crindoids. Crinoids are a very common Mississippian epoch fossil.
This is cluster of Brachiopods. They resemble mussels, but actually are distinctly different. The symmerty of the shells in brachiopods is bi-lateral and perpendicular to the hinge. Mussels (bi-valves) have a plane of symmetry between the shells. Brachiopods (and bi-valves) still live today. Brachiopods feed through a structure called a lophophore. Brachiopods are in a state of evolutionary decline. This appears to be a natural occurrance and has been happening for over 100 million years. They are the most common Paleozoic fossil. Brachiopods are sometimes referred to as "Lamp Shells" and are often used as an "index fossil" to help date other fossils. Note that the fossil in the middle, right of the photo looks more like a bi-valve than a brachiopod, based on the symmetry of the lines in the shell.
This is half of a rather different shaped Brachiopod. Notice that the rays are perpendicular and not parallel to the junction of the of the two shells. This is a distinguishing feature of brachiopods.
This is a cluster of Rugosa, commonly referred to as Horn Coral. Rugosa is an extinct order of coral from the Mississippian epoch of the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era. There is no direct proof but it is thought that this coral possessed tentacles and stinging cells and preyed on micro-animals.
This is a close-up view of a single Rugosa, or Horn Coral. This is a cast of the original animal, that was buried in the sea floor. Millions of years later a cave stream eroded a path through the bed of limestone, exposing this fossililzed cast.
This is an Archimedes fossil. It was a bryozoan, living in large mats on the ocean floor during the Mississippian epoch of the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era. The body was caciferous and it had fern-like veils or leafs that waved in the water and filter-fed. It is called archimedes because of its resemblance to the water-pumping device created by the famous inventor Archimedes.
Another photo of an Archimedes fossil. Notice the screw shape. Archimedes the inventor designed a water pump like this, known as Archimedes Screw that was primarily used for crop irrigation and bilge pumps in ships.
I have no idea what this fossil is. Some type of coral from the Mississippian epoch. It may even be a root bundle. Possibly a Silurian coral, but that would be the wrong time-frame. I would like assistance IDing this fossil. Contact information is above.
I assume this is an example of the same fossil pictured directly above, although I am not sure. I need assistance IDing this fossil.