funky fossils

Hundreds of children enjoyed the Yorkshire Fossil Festival outside Scarborough's Rotunda Museum. The British Geological Survey, London’s Natural History Museum, the Geological Society and Oxford University Museum are among the organisations taking part. All four have a longstanding interest in, and have built upon, the work of William Smith (1769-1839). Smith, known as the father of modern geology, was one of the founders of the Rotunda when he lived in the town in the early 1800s.
The festival is organised by Scarborough Museums Trust in partnership with the Palaeontological Association, one of the world's leading learned societies in this field.
The programme of events ranges from public talks by leading scientists - including Professor Hugh Torrens, a William Smith expert – to fun for young children, including Horace the Pliosaur, a travelling walk-in cinema from educational street theatre specialists Emerald Ant, and juggling and circus skills from the Stephen Joseph Theatre.
Doncaster-based palaeontologist and author Dean Lomax signed copies of his new book, Dinosaurs of the British Isles, and an artwork based on one of Smith’s maps of Yorkshire, designed by artist Sue Lawty, will be installed by visitors outside the Rotunda over the weekend.