The Mystery of the Whitby Garlic Stones with Dr Liam Herringshaw

Body fossils attract most of the palaeontological attention, but trace fossils – burrows, borings, tracks – are far more interesting. Rather than being a litany of death, they represent the fossilized behaviour of living things. A particularly intriguing Jurassic example was found near Whitby in 2021 by Tim Burnhill and John Hodgson. Looking rather like garlic bulbs connected by tubes, such trace fossils have never been described previously from Yorkshire.

In this talk, palaeontologist Dr Liam Herringshaw will try to make sense of what they are, where they came from, and how they were made. And how they might just give us new insights into the effects of rapid climate change on seafloor life. The talk will last around 45 minutes, with an opportunity for discussion and garlic stone-inspection at the end.

The talk will take place in the Normanby Room of Whitby Museum and will start as soon after 3pm as possible as activities from the fossil day wind down.

Admission is ‘pay as you feel’ donation with proceeds going to Whitby Literary & Philosophical Society to help us continue to run affordable events for all at Whitby Museum. Free seat reservations can be made online if you prefer to donate on the day or you can choose a ticket price which includes your donation.

If you would also like to attend Whitby Fossil Day before the talk or look around the exhibits please note that normal admission for the museum applies.

Dr Liam Herringshaw is the Acting Chair of Earth Science Outreach UK.