David K
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Fossil Hunters at Catarina (Desert Magazine, May 1948)
Pavement ended in Ensenada in 1948, so Santa Catarina Landing was almost as remote as the Gobi Desert!
To see some Catarina ammonites, just visit the museum in El Rosario or mama Espinoza's Restaurant... below this three page article, is a photo of an
ammonite being found from Choral Pepper's photo collection.
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David K
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Just a note... today, the only fossils non-Mexicans can take from Mexico are photos!
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Ken Bondy
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Fantastic David. Those ammonites are incredible.
carpe diem!
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Cardon Man
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Another great post David. Thanks again.
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wilderone
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Yes, those ammonites were great before all they all got dug up and hauled away. It's stories like that one that promoted the destruction of the site.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
Yes, those ammonites were great before all they all got dug up and hauled away. It's stories like that one that promoted the destruction of the site.
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Yes it is unfortunate. John was there in 1970 with a graduate college class and he said the site was really torn up even then. They, of course,
removed nothing. His professor loved Baja and had great respect for all of it.
[Edited on 10-23-2009 by DianaT]
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Baja&Back
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
Yes, those ammonites were great before all they all got dug up and hauled away. It's stories like that one that promoted the destruction of the site.
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I doubt that very many locals in El Rosario read that article.
90% of Ammonites dug from the area were taken by locals to sell to American lapidary dealers, according to Dona Espinoza's granddaughter who works at
the cafe.
In recent years, INAH has located and catalogued every Ammonite held locally, like those in the display case at the cafe. At least someone is trying.
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Mexitron
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I would imagine there are still lots of the fossils buried still--just too deep for most folks to make the effort..............???
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Skipjack Joe
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Ammonites are really impressive fossils. While crossing the border back in '78, I guess it was, I saw a truck returning from baja with these huge
ammonites on it's bed. Now that's a fossil, I thought to myself. The driver told me he was headed to some college or museum, can't remember. Needless
to say, I was envious.
Talked to the people at Mama Espinosa more recently and was told that that's all in the past now. Nobody takes these fossils any more.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Talked to the people at Mama Espinosa more recently and was told that that's all in the past now. Nobody takes these fossils any more.
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That is good. Unfortunately, there are some areas where people still do take the fossils illegally in Baja----but that tends to happen everywhere,
not just in Mexico.
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David K
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Take only photos... leave all the fossils!
Petrified Forest near El Rosario:
Here's a web page with more photos: http://vivabaja.com/206/
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