This is the “Fossil Friday” post #320. Expect this to be a regular feature of the website. We will post fossil pictures you send in to esconi.info@gmail.com. Please include a short description or story. Check the #FossilFriday Bluesky/Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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For this week’s Fossil Friday, we’re featuring our first-ever repeat fossil. It was special before and you’ll see why it’s even more special now. This remarkable Tully Monster specimen comes from longtime ESCONI member and Field Trip Chairman Jeremy Zimmerman. You could even say that this particular fossil is getting its third chance at fame.

It was first featured back in Fossil Friday #109. A number of years ago, Jeremy was deep in the wilds of Pit 11, when he found this specimen as an unopened concretion. Someone had hammered on it long ago, thought it was a blank, and left it to the elements. Jeremy picked it up, made it part of his freeze/thaw process, and it rewarded him for his patience. The hammer scars add to the character of this specimen. Some repair was needed as can be seen on the back side. For that, Elmer’s Glue worked wonderfully. Elmer’s Glue is great, because it allows you to try again, if you make a mistake.

Remember, when you’re out in the field collecting, don’t overlook the discards from long ago.  Sometimes, these rejects contain treasure. In the past, the collectors had more concretions than you can believe.  They hammered on them and then kept the best specimens with the least damage.  Use the  freeze/thaw method, yes, it’s slower, but it gives you the best chance for a nice opening… especially with the markedly reduced count of concretions available today!

As part of the new Pokémon Fossil Museum at the Field Museum, a few Japanese paleontologists were here to collaborate with the Field Museum’s paleontologists and researchers. Arjan Mann, Cal So, and other Field Museum staff joined up with a few ESCONI board members and Field Museum Volunteers, Jeff Allen, Jeremy Zimmerman, and Rich Holm. We took the visiting scientists to the Braceville Spoil Pile for an afternoon of fossil collecting.

We found a number of promising concretions for them to take back to Japan. With a little luck, they’ll uncover some interesting fossils when they process them at home. One of the highlights of the day came when Jeremy Zimmerman generously presented this Tully Monster specimen to Masato Sean Kikuchi, a paleontologist with the The Pokémon Company, as a gesture of hospitality and scientific collaboration. No promises, but the idea of a Tully Monster-inspired Pokémon did come up in conversation!

Hey Jeremy, thanks for sharing this fossil with us first and later with Masato. Your generosity was greatly appreciated!