Kentucky Fossil ( over 400,000,000 years old )

Kentucky’s State Fossil is a brachiopod. Brachiopods are fossil shells, from animals that lived in ancient seas. Most are now extinct. Although they resemble clams, brachiopods were a different group of animals. Hundreds of different types of brachiopods can be found in Kentucky. Because brachiopods can be found in rocks throughout Kentucky, we know that Kentucky was once covered by oceans.

This specimen, which I found in shale near Mount Washington, Kentucky, seems to be typical of the brachiopods found in areas once covered by shallow seas. This one is small, about the circumference of a U.S. Quarter. When handling the specimen it is hard to believe that it is over four-hundred-million years old!

Despite their unassuming character, the brachiopods constitute one of the most important and abundant groups of Paleozoic marine organisms. They diversified into a number of different morphologies and even participated in the build-up of ancient reefs. Certainly in terms of numbers of fossil remains they are the most numerous of any Paleozoic organism. Fossil brachiopods are a favorite subject for paleontologists because of their diversity, and usefulness in stratigraphic correlation.

Spirits Among Us

Who are these spirits among us that we know are there, yet we cannot see?
Loved ones, surely, who have passed on to the dimension of their destinies;
they among others more mysterious.
Lingering, perhaps returning, to prompt us to remain aware of " The Present Moment ". Beseeching us to stop these stories in our mind of things to come and of times that have passed. " Be still ", they urge. Breathe stillness. Live now.
Better to live in this moment than to chase the future or try to alter memories.

Phil Miller

Jefferson County Road

Photo by Phil Miller (c) 2006 Click on photo to enlarge

All One

Photo by: Phil Miller, from Fern Creek in Fall 2006

Step three paces into the woods and touch the life there.
Linger, listen and breathe the forces of nature all around,
While thoughts change, pace slows and spirit quickens.
Feel that electric sparkle in your heart of hearts,
Knowing that you are not alone,
Realizing this is a part of you and you are a part of this.
Part of the total fabric, an individual entity fused to all
Things and all things to you.

Phil Miller