Gerry and Linda Corbin Donate Fossils to SRAC

Sayre native Gerry Corbin with fossils he recently donated

(WAVERLY, NY) The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) reports that Sayre natives Gerry and Linda Corbin recently donated two fossils to add to their ever growing exhibit of fossils and sea life.

One of the donations is a fossilized fish embedded in limestone. These herring-like fish flourished during Eocene time, about 50 million years ago, in three vast freshwater lakes. They are unusually well preserved in laminated limestone precipitated from calcium-rich waters. The limestone is interbedded with many thin layers of volcanic ash and mudstone.

The second fossil is much more rare and is of a well-preserved example of an Inadunate Cladid crinoid known as Cyathocrinites (Family Cyathocrinitidae). Its serially branching arms formed a most effective basket for filtering out the minute particles upon which it fed. This one has an attached stem, making it a more desirable example than many seen. Crinoids are a group of sea creatures that are still alive today. The majority of crinoids attach themselves to the sea-floor, and have a long, flexible 'stem', with a crown of tentacles at the top. Although crinoids look like plants (which is why they are also known as sea-lilies), they are animals that feed on tiny creatures (plankton). It lived around 350 million years ago in the geological time period known as the Lower Mississippian Osagean Stage.

Fossil (Cyathocrinites) donated to SRAC

The two fossils will be known as the "SRAC/Corbin Collection" and will be on display with a picture of Gerry Corbin for future visitors to enjoy. SRAC is dedicated to education, research and preservation of the region's archaeological and historical assets for the communities within the Twin Tier Region of Southeastern NY and Northeastern PA. To learn more about donating items to SRAC, visit http://www.sracenter.org/Donations/#collection 

SRAC is located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY and committed to ensuring the collections left to the Center will remain safe, stay local, and be recognized as the collection of the donator for all time. SRAC is a charitable organization , (501c3) and cash and non cash donations may be deductible for the year in which they were donated. To learn more, visit http://www.sracenter.org/Donations/