Kythera-Family.net - for the world-wide Kytherian community: Fossils

It is always exciting to find something that’s 5 million years old. The nature collector on Kythera is extrememly lucky when it comes to fossils, as the island is rich in specimens that date 2-5 million years back. Perhaps the most significant of these are the Giant Scallops of Aphrodite, oversized bivalves that undoubtedly gave rise to the myth of Aphrodite emerging from the sea on a scallop shell.

The best place to look for fossils is the middle of the island, near the airport, on the road to Diakofty and between Mitata and Paliopoli.

For information on Kythera's fossils, we recommend the wonderful book "Palaiontologia ton Kytheron" by Antonis Bartsiokas.

Showing 1 - 20 from 31 entries

Show:

sorted by

	1	Giant Core This short, squat gastropod gore is the largest we've ever seen on Kythera. Found 2004 at Amoutses. 5 cm across the base.... submitted by Museum Administration on 03.11.2004

	2	Gastropod Core This wonderful corkscrew gastropod core is the fossilized inside of a prehistoric snail. Found in a quarry near the airport.... submitted by Museum Administration on 03.11.2004

	3	Brachiopod Fossilized brachiopod, showing siphon-hole. 3 cm long. Photograph ©James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 15.10.2003

	4	Brachiopod, two views Small, fossilized brachiopod, top and bottom views. 2 cm long. Photograph ©James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 15.10.2003

	5	Barnacles Conglomoration of fossilized barnacles, each 3-5 cm high. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	6	Bivalve Core The fossilized internal core of a bivalve, probably some type of clam. 10 cm high. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	7	Fossilized coral Tube-shaped fossils, hollow at the core. Perhaps pieces of ancient coral. 5 cm, 8 cm and 8.5 cm long. Photograph ©Peter B.... submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	8	Gastropod Core The fossilized, internal core of a gastropod (single-shelled seasnail). 3.5 cm across. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	9	Tiny Gastropod Core The internal, fossilized core of a gastropod (single-shelled seasnail). 1 cm across. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	10	Gastropod Core in Rock The internal core of a gastropod imbedded in rock. 1 cm across. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	11	Coral Impression Fossilized impression, probably of a coral. 3.5 cm long. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	12	Fish tooth Small tooth, probably from the back of the mouth of a fish. 2 cm long. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	13	Giant Oyster This giant fossilized oyster shell was found on the road between Mitata and Paliopoli in 1987. A beautiful specimen, it... submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	14	Giant Oyster, side view Side view of a fossilized giant oyster, showing the incredible thickness of the shell. 17 cm high, 8 cm thick. Photograph... submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	15	Common Oyster shell Fossilized oyster with a ruffled edge, similar to the present-day Common European Oyster. 7 cm high. Photograph ©Peter B.... submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	16	Wavy Oyster Shell Fossilized oyster shell. 8.5 cm high, 10 cm wide. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	17	Limpet Fossilized limpet shell, 4.5 cm long. Photograph ©James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	18	Adriatic Oyster shell Fossilized oyster shell similar to the present-day Adriatic Oyster. 6 cm across. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	19	Oyster shell Fossilized oyster shell, deeply concave, 5 cm long. Photograph ©Peter B. Tzannes, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

	20	Thorny Oyster A large, fossilized Thorny Oyster, rare and wonderful because both valves are present and intact. 15 cm long. Photograph... submitted by Museum Administration on 11.10.2003

1 - 20 | 21 - 31

Link to this Page

View all Photos together as a slideshow

Popular Fossils

Oyster shell

Thorny Oyster