FossilFest 2021 has been CANCELED! details below.

Next Peace River Trip is scheduled for Feb 27, 2021 - Check the Field Trips page or the Calendar for details!

SWAP Meet Outdoor Event March 6 - 9AM until 3PM details below.

President's Message

FossilFest 2021 Canceled

We are all disappointed, but there was no choice but to pull the plug. With less than two months until show time, Barbara Fite reports that we were only at about 33% participation from dealers.
Seina Searle confirmed that we only had about 25 volunteers signed up (including the Board members). We need 125. As much as it pains me to say, people just aren’t ready yet to participate in a large multi-day show. Please know that we all did our best to make FossilFest happen. We have already redirected our efforts to FossilFest 2022 scheduled for March 19 & 20.

Paleo SWAP Meet! March 6, 2021

Back in the “old days” before large shows like FossilFest, a lot of hobby clubs held SWAP meets. It was a staple of rock and fossil clubs in the 70s. With the cancellation of FossilFest and COVID concerns, we’ve decided to give the old SWAP meet a try. On a much smaller scale, and, more importantly, outdoors, TBFC will hold what we hope to be a one-time substitute for FossilFest. Our plan is to host about 30 dealers in an outdoor setting where folks can social distance as they see fit. The Paleo SWAP meet will be a one day event, 9AM – 3PM. The cost for dealers is $25 per parking spot, entrance fee for shoppers is $2. Facemask will be required. If you’re not comfortable wearing a mask, please don’t attend.

TBFC SWAP Meet Location:
American Postal Workers Union Hall,
4409 West Alva Street, Tampa, Florida 33614

To reserve a dealer spot, contact Barbara Fite at bfite1@tampabay.rr.com. Questions? Contact Mike Searle at fossilnerd@msn.com.

Peace River Monthly Trips

Fred Hendershot will be running our monthly Peace River day trips, water levels and weather allowing. But don’t wait for him, get out there on your own. Join our Facebook page to connect with other fossil hunters. Organize your own group hunt or canoe trip. Meet at a boat ramp and walk in. I promise you that great fossils await, you just have to get out there and find them. Be safe, social distance, and take care of each other out there. Fossil hunting season is officially open in Florida! Be sure to renew your permits! Check the Field Trips page for updates and cancellations!

Good and safe hunting to you!

Mike Searle

Announcements

Feb. 6, 2021
Guest Speaker Nicole Cannarozzi: Environmental Archaeology, Collection Manager Florida Museum of Natural History

7PM VIRTUAL CLUB MEETING Live on YouTube

Archaeologist and collections assistant Nicole Cannarozzi was appointed collections manager of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s environmental archaeology program in 2018. She originally started at the Florida Museum in 2004 as a faunal analyst after graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She’s worked with the museum in various positions over the past 14 years while completing her PhD. “The museum is one of the reasons I’ve stayed in Gainesville,” said Cannarozzi, who was hired into her current position in March 2018. “I’ve been lucky to work in one of the best zooarchaeology labs in the country.” Cannarozzi said she wants to focus on outreach, with a goal of recruiting more volunteers and participating in museum-sponsored and external events to expose more people to environmental archaeology. “I’m very happy, it’s my dream job,” Cannarozzi said. “I really like the integrated nature of the museum where you have many departments and disciplines under one roof. That kind of atmosphere fosters communication and collaboration that is so important for our research.”

The Florida Museum environmental archaeology program was established in 1961. Its researchers use soil and animal and plant remains from archaeological sites to better understand past human interactions with the natural environment.

Tampa Bay Fossil Chronicles

Hopefully you’ve noticed that TBFC has stepped up its game with the newsletter each month. In addition to all of our regular contributors, we’ve added two new recurring articles this season. “In Touch with Inverts” by Rob Carlson was added in September. In this issue, “Paleo Analysis” by Steve Vicari debuts. Each month Steve will be discussing interesting prehistoric fauna and how they relate to extant species.

Please check out all of the articles in each issue. Only TBFC members receive the Chronicles, we don’t post it online or on Facebook.

TBFC SWAP Meet

FossilFest 2021 has been cancelled. As analternative the club will be hosting an outdoor Swap Meet event!