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Fossil of the year 2025: Chemnitz shark egg capsule immortalized in art!
On March 14, 2025, teaching students from Chemnitz University of Technology will present pen drawings of the fossil of the year in the Chemnitz Natural History Museum.
Fossil of the year 2025: Chemnitz shark egg capsule immortalized in art!
On March 14, 2025, a special event dedicated to paleontology will take place at the Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz. Teacher training students Chemnitz University of Technology On this day, they are presenting their pen drawings for the Fossil of the Year 2025, an in-house award that has been given by the Paleontological Society since 2008.
The fossil of the year, the 330 million year old shark egg capsuleFayolia sterzeliana, comes from the Lower Carboniferous and was found in the Chemnitz-Borna and Glösa areas. This unique egg capsule is notable because it predates the famous petrified forest in the region by approximately 40 million years. The presentation of the pen and ink drawings begins at 6 p.m. and is part of the celebration of the 50th Annual Meeting of Vertebrate Paleontologists.
Artistic engagement with fossils
In November 2024, students at the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research dealt intensively with the shark egg capsule and other collection items. Dr. Ilya Kogan, the curator of the museum, made the collection items available for study purposes. The resulting pen drawings not only show the shapes and structures ofFayolia sterzeliana, but also the appearance of fossilized ammonites, corals, sea lilies, petrified wood and shell marble.
These artistic works are part of a cooperation between the Professorship of Art Didactics at Chemnitz University of Technology and the Museum of Natural History. The exhibition aims to promote interest in paleontology and highlight the importance of fossils as part of the earth's history and life history.
The importance of fossils in science
Chemnitz is not only known for its unique fossils, but also for the invention of the term “fossil” by the geologist Georgius Agricola in 1546. The museum is proud to have received the Fossil of the Year award four times, including in 2010, 2015 and 2023. Fossils are central to science in understanding the history of life on Earth.
The process of paleontology involves complex steps, from geological mapping of fossil-bearing sediments to systematic excavations and analysis of the remains found. These steps are crucial for reconstructing communities of the past and understanding their evolutionary history. Fossils also provide geologists with valuable information about past environmental conditions and biotic interactions.
Overall, the event on March 14th will not only be a celebration of the artistic talents of the teaching students, but also an important contribution to promoting paleontology as a scientific discipline in the Chemnitz region.