“Ammonites were free-swimming molluscs of the ancient oceans, living around the same time that the dinosaurs walked the Earth and disappearing during the same extinction event.”BBC Nature
I love the idea of a free swimming creature roaming the oceans before a time that we can imagine. It translates, in my brain, as being a free spirit. Just wandering around and going where ever its fancy, or the current, took it. Moving freely. Beautiful.
Ironic that the only evidence of it’s existence is now stone. All movement vanished. Still beautiful in its architecture.
When we first moved into our house and started digging up the garden, we uncovered a fair number of ammonite fossils. Imported or original? I don’t know. We have split rocks and found more. Also the house is over 260 years old and made of the same stone. So maybe the ammonites ended their free spirited days in our back garden. Maybe we have many more, embedded within the walls. Out of sight.
When we had the house repointed a few years ago, I asked the builders to incorporate them into the walls. Randomly placed, but firmly positioned. Every now and again, the children will spot another one. This one is easy to find near the front door. I like the quirkiness of it and the way it catches the afternoon sun. Like a rainbow made of stone.
I’m joining in with the talented PODcast’s Alphabet Project. A time to focus on improving my photography (My father will be pleased!). Today is the first one, so it’s theme is A. Please go over and take a look.
These really are so interesting aren’t they and really do make you think! They do look really beautiful too.
I find the time scale and shift in environment is thought provoking.
😛 How lucky you guys are to actually have ammonites in your garden. We went fossil hunting over at the Jurassic coast a couple of years ago and absolutely enjoyed it. Must do that again soon! 🙂 #alphabetphoto.
We love fossil hunting. We’ve been down to Charmouth and Watchet. A definite family favourite outting.
Brilliant photo and a great story behind it, what a great idea to put them into the pointing. I wonder how many more you have tucked away inside the walls…
To be honest, I was starting to wonder how to preserve them. Fortunately our builders are old friends and were willing to humour me.
Wow!!!!! I can’t believe you found these in your own garden. My son would be very jealous, he loves ammonites. I will show him this pic when I pick him up from nursery.
It is a funny old place, so finding these just fitted in with the house’s character perfectly.
Oh wow how fabulous to have ammonites in your garden, what a great find. Fossils are fascinating, I saw a few of my dad’s recently they’re beautiful. It’s a rather lovely idea to think there may be more in the walls too. Awesome post, thank you so much for sharing and joining in #alphabetphoto
Loving this new photo challenge. Using the alphabet is perfect. So many different ways to interpret it, but still restricts it.
How wonderful to find these in your garden, so interesting. And, I love the idea of adding them to your house, that’s just brilliant! #alphabetphoto
Certainly ensures that I don’t lose them. They tended to get scattered around the garden. Free spirited, for sure.
What wonderful things to discover and I love what you’ve done with them – great idea #alphabetphoto
I’ve grown so used to them being in our garden that I tend to forget its not the norm. I’m sure the children are growing up assuming that everyone has ammonites in their garden.
Whoa! Fossils in your house! Thats the coolest thing ever! #AlphabetPhoto
Ha. I’m sure most stones have some interesting tales to tell.
Wow, I have a small boy who is obsessed by all things prehistoric so he would love finding the ammonites on your house!
My son loves dinosaurs. I’m forever surprised that at the age of 6 he can spout the most amazing facts about them. He wants to be a paleontologist.
Ammonite fossils are fascinating – we have one at home that we bought whilst on holiday in Dorset! Here’s my A for #AlphabetPhoto x
Totally agree. 🙂
Great photo! Grace,my daughter, loves ammonites and fossils 🙂 #alphabetphoto
It’s good to know the next generation are interested in them.
I love this – I adore your sense of freedom and the free-spirit element of it! Lovely xx
I’m inspired by its freedom in life and the beautiful structure it left behind. Opposite but complementary.
That is stunning! I love ammonites, such a delicate fossil to find and so intriguing.
#alphabetphoto
They are intriguing, aren’t they? Always a thrill to find one.
Brilliant photo and a great post. My eldest is amazed by ammonites at the moment; my Mum has a couple of little ones and various fossils she’s collected and my Daughter cannot get enough of them. So fascinating.
They are fascinating and so much to learn.
What an epic photo. We love things like this in our house. #alphabetphoto