Photo  of  fossil block by Richard McCrea

Tumbler Ridge, B.C.-  100 million  years ago there were crocodiles in the Peace region and the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre in Tumbler Ridge has the fossils to prove it.

“There had been crocodile  tracks described from a number of different formations” says  Richard McCrea, Curator of Palaeontology  at the museum ” usually just one or two or a few.  The thing is, what is different is, we probably have over a hundred  tracks on  larger blocks.”

The discovery was made in late April by  geologist Kevin Sharman,  who was  working for Teck Resources ‘ Quintette  project  south of Tumbler Ridge.  “Sharman’s had an eye for fossils  for the longest time, he’s actually been key for a number of discovers”  says McCrea.

Sharman wasn’t quite  certain that  what he had  found  would be significant  says McCrea “We’re very excited,  when Kevin sent me the photos he was speculative,  saying ‘it looks like something to me  but  I’m not sure’ because they are unusual to trace,  a lot of people would have waked right on by them.  When I first saw those blocks,  I had never  seen any tracks from crocodiles that looked that good from any reports from anywhere around the world.”

( photo at right  of fossil block detail by Kevin Sharman)

The fossil discovery is a little different says McCrea ““There are well over 100 tracks, almost all of which are crocodilian. Partial trackways with complete hand and footprints are visible. Most of the tracks are associated with claw impressions, which are very long and represent the activities of bottom-walking and swimming crocodiles. The traces are striking in appearance and are among the best preserved crocodilian tracks ever found.”

The analysis of the fossils is underway now on a replica  cast from the original rock.  McCrea says  eventually the original will be moved to the  Palaeontolgy  Museum but that will take  great effort  as the rocks  weigh about 5000 kgs each.

Although 100 million years old, the crocodile  fossils are not  the oldest to be  discovered in the  region  says McCrea who says there are already fossils in the region that  date 140 million  years and older. Recent announcements have included the only tyrannosaurid trackways in the world and the “Dinosaur Autobahn”, a mega-trackway site.

The Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark’s formal inauguration ceremony will take place on June 29^th at the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, where a replica of the newly discovered crocodilian trackways will be on exhibit.

(Photo below by Kevin Sharman)