Columbus Arts Council showcasing the area’s fascinating pre-history

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday October 14th is National Fossil Day, and the Columbus Arts Council celebrated with an exhibit of, what else, fossils, many of which were found locally.

The Arts Council might seem a strange place for a exhibit on pre-historic creatures, but the first word in “artifact” is “art”.

The Arts Council is also partnering with the Columbus Recreation Department on a number of educational programs this year, and many of the fossils on display were taken from the Jack Kaye Fossil Park at Propst Park in the city.

Columbus represents a unique area for paleontologists and amateur fossil hunters alike. It is what is described as a near-shore environment, meaning you can find the remains of prehistoric sea and land animal life.

“I think everybody visiting today is going to have a better understanding of what prehistoric life was in the Columbus area. Now, although, it’s only the Fossil PArk that’s exposed and available to the public to collect fossils in, know that this entire area was a coast during the Cretaceous PEriod, and the exact interval that is preserved int he Fosil Park is 85 million years ago, so this is several million years before the end of the Cretaceous Period when non-avian dinosaurs became extinct, so dinosaurs are doing well at this time.”

The fossil exhibit continues at the Columbus Arts Council until the end of the month.