Afrikaner Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Do you know how rare South African Fossil Shark Teeth are or other Fossils found on the Beaches in Cape Town for that matter? I followed the discussion about Chili Fossil Shark Teeth they beautiful in Color and preservation, everybody seems to have a few in their collection but they not rare. If I look at the variety and amount of Teeth from different Shark species found in the US and Europe makes me wonder why I find mainly GW, Mako and a few bits and pieces of Megalodon in South Africa. Sure I found about 5 I.taurus and a about 5 transitional Teeth in two and a half Years. Maybe it’s because you not allowed to dig on the Beach, actually you not even allowed to keep what you find because the law states that all fossil belong to the Government. When I started collecting about two and a half Years ago I tried to find some information on Fossil Shark Teeth on South African websites and found none, except one article where a few years back an American student found a Megalodon Tooth on the coast in northern Natal and the “Experts” where not sure if it was a megalodon because none was ever found in South Africa an till that date. I didn’t find any literature about Fossil Shark Teeth in South Africa to find out where they come from, then I found an article on the web about commercial phosphate Mines in SA and there was the hint about a phosphate Reef that runs along the Cape Town Coast towards Namibia but it’s to low grade to be exploited. So I believe the Teeth and other Fossils I find on the Beach come out of that phosphate reef and are washed on to the Beach by the currant. The big Importance on Fossils in SA is Human ancestors and mammals, like near where I live is the "Langebaan Fossil Park" what used to be a Phosphate Mine and belongs since many years now to the Iziko Museum in Cape Town where they find a wide variety of mammal Fossils. Pipa Haarhoff is the Manager there and here speciality is Birds and I bring here sometimes so Bird Bones I find on the Beach, hey Auspex have you heared "Bird Bones" <img src="http://www.thefossilforum.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/post-423-1226172426.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="post-423-1226172426.gif" /> . I was there several times and they have an artificial color painted Meg Tooth to show to Visitors, would you believe it. So Fossil Shark Teeth take a back seat but I try to put a Collection together despite the possibility that one Day they might come to take it away. When I go out every Weekend by Wind and Weather there are many “Collectors” on the Beach most of them are homeless, looking every Day for Teeth not even knowing the species of shark they belonged to, they than sell the teeth to Tourist Shops for a few Rand to make a living and the Teeth end up as Pendant most properly with a hole drilled through. I sometimes buy a few Teeth on the Beach but prefer to collect myself. This Year was very slow so far and even the ones they are every Day on the Beach are complaining that they mostly find small ones and the bigger ones are damaged. All I wanted to say is that it is not easy to find good Teeth on the Beach because most of them are damaged or rolled up and there for the good ones and especially the big ones are the exceptions , expensive and very rare. Some of you have already bought from me and will agree they make a nice addition to any collection. And here a few Pic's, enjoy. Regards from Cape Town Werner Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Werner, I know of one article about fossil shark teeth from South Africa: D.H. Davies. 1964. The Miocene Shark Fauna of the Southern St. Lucia Area. The Oceanographic Research Institute. Investigational Report No. 10. The teeth appear to come from the Pliocene though (perhaps latest Miocene). It is true that South African shark teeth are never seen at shows. I have one great white from Milnerton. It came out of an old collection of a California collector (Sparky Johnson), who had passed away, and then it went into another collection (George Lee, now also deceased) and I bought it from George about fifteen years ago. If I had not visited him at the right time, he would have undoubted sold it to the next shark tooth collector that went to his shop. Actually, he had two and I bought both but traded one a couple of years after that. I knew not to trade both because I had not seen one for sale before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Werner,I know of one article about fossil shark teeth from South Africa: D.H. Davies. 1964. The Miocene Shark Fauna of the Southern St. Lucia Area. The Oceanographic Research Institute. Investigational Report No. 10. The teeth appear to come from the Pliocene though (perhaps latest Miocene). It is true that South African shark teeth are never seen at shows. I have one great white from Milnerton. It came out of an old collection of a California collector (Sparky Johnson), who had passed away, and then it went into another collection (George Lee, now also deceased) and I bought it from George about fifteen years ago. If I had not visited him at the right time, he would have undoubted sold it to the next shark tooth collector that went to his shop. Actually, he had two and I bought both but traded one a couple of years after that. I knew not to trade both because I had not seen one for sale before. I talked to an oldtimer once and he told me that the Teeth where plentifull in the 60s and 70s but all changed when they build a bigger Habour in Cape Town and the Nuclear Reactor in Koeberg. Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Werner......Looking at what you have found id say yor doing very well for 2 1/2 years collecting, and I to would buy anything special that appears on the day as well from the commercial collectors.... as your putting together by the sounds of it a collection of material from an area that hasnt properly been scientifically recorded, so its very important you continue to do so and more importantly enjoy doing it.... Regrading your point Rarity.....I can see how rare your fossils are in comparison to an area that may produce hundreds of sharkteeth in one trip... for me this makes them all the more special..... keep up the good work and thanks for telling us about your area.... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Werner......Looking at what you have found id say yor doing very well for 2 1/2 years collecting, and I to would buy anything special that appears on the day as well from the commercial collectors.... as your putting together by the sounds of it a collection of material from an area that hasnt properly been scientifically recorded, so its very important you continue to do so and more importantly enjoy doing it.... Regrading your point Rarity.....I can see how rare your fossils are in comparison to an area that may produce hundreds of sharkteeth in one trip... for me this makes them all the more special..... keep up the good work and thanks for telling us about your area.... Hi Steve, thanks for the nice comment and the ecouragement. Keep well Werner Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 ...Pipa Haarhoff is the Manager there and here speciality is Birds and I bring here sometimes so Bird Bones I find on the Beach,hey Auspex have you heared "Bird Bones" ... Has this humerus been identified? I have no sources for comparison of old-world, southern-hemisphere bird bones, but there are some very distinctive features on this one, with strong affinities to the family Psittacidae (parrots). I would love to hear what you know about it! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 Has this humerus been identified? I have no sources for comparison of old-world, southern-hemisphere bird bones, but there are some very distinctive features on this one, with strong affinities to the family Psittacidae (parrots). I would love to hear what you know about it! Sorry Auspex I have no idea but maybe you ask Pippa she ia the expert I send you a PM with her e-mail. Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Smilodon Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Sorry Auspex I have no idea but maybe you ask Pippa she ia the expertI send you a PM with her e-mail. Hey Werner, I sent your bird bone photo to someone who knows a little about birds. He owes me. I'll let you know if I hear back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Smilodon Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Hey Werner,I sent your bird bone photo to someone who knows a little about birds. He owes me. I'll let you know if I hear back Pretty definitely a pigeon of some sort, although possibly a sandgrouse. Too bad there is no stratigraphic context. Storrs L. Olson Curator Emeritus Smithsonian Institution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Pretty definitely a pigeon of some sort, although possibly a sandgrouse. Too bad there is no stratigraphic context. Storrs L. Olson Curator Emeritus Smithsonian Institution That's good info; Storrs is the man! There is a natural structural clade spanning the sand grouse/pigeons & doves/parrots/turacos, and the DNA work supports a genetic relationship over convergence. Wish I had access to world-wide avian osteological references... I'll check with Pippa too; since it's from that corner of the world, more info may be forthcoming. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Jr. Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 werner, just thought i would mention that i love reading your posts from South Africa and shark teeth are a favorite of mine. it's great that you have a spot where you can go and always have that potential. i must say that your mammoth tooth in piece of jaw is absolutely great! the biggest piece i ever found of a mammoth tooth was about two inches long, and i do recall you saying you bought it from a guy at the beach, but it makes a great display! you have some great stuff and its always a joy read your posts. tj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 Thanks a lot for your reply TJ. Werner Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks a lot for your reply TJ. Werner Sorry,I don't know why all the pics where gone,here are some more Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Sorry,I don't know why all the pics where gone,here are some more Pictures are still being uploaded from the move to a new host; it's a time-consuming job, but we'll get there. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Thanks a lot for your reply TJ. Werner Hi Werner, One thing I was curious about, what is the legal status of fossil collecting in South Africa? I've occasionally heard that all fossil collecting in South Africa is illegal, but I have no idea what the truth really is. Are some things legal and some not or is it that export is illegal, but collecting is OK? Regards, John “When you're riding in a time machine way far into the future, don't stick your elbow out the window, or it'll turn into a fossil.” - Jack Handy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I talked to an oldtimer once and he told me that the Teeth where plentifull in the 60s and 70s but all changed when they build a bigger Habour in Cape Town and the Nuclear Reactor in Koeberg. Werner, One time at a show, David Ward told me there was a great site for shark teeth in South Africa but the local man he knew stopped going because cobras were also common there. Do you know that site? Siteseer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Hi Werner, One thing I was curious about, what is the legal status of fossil collecting in South Africa? I've occasionally heard that all fossil collecting in South Africa is illegal, but I have no idea what the truth really is. Are some things legal and some not or is it that export is illegal, but collecting is OK? Regards, John Hi John, the collecting and selling of Fossils is illegal in SA to keep the Fossils you find you have to register them what I'm doing at the moment, as I said before Shark Teeth are not high on the agenta and I sell them to Europe and the US. They are also sold here in Tourist Shops. Keep well Werner Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikaner Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 quote name='siteseer' date='08 September 2009 - 05:35 AM' timestamp='1252395351' post='101337'] Werner, One time at a show, David Ward told me there was a great site for shark teeth in South Africa but the local man he knew stopped going because cobras were also common there. Do you know that site? Siteseer Hi Siteseer, there are sites along the coast towards Namibia where they operate opern cast diamond mines and even some are a few km away from the coast in the gravel you can find Fossil Shark Teeth,two years ago I have been to Hondeklipbay about 450km north of Cape Town for a three day holiday and because there was not much to do I went to an old mine dump and found some Fossil Shark Teeth,now there you could encounter possibly Cape Cobras . Werner Better a bad Day at the Beach than a good Day at the Office! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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