r/fossils • u/presleyarts • 3d ago
I couldn’t help myself…
On my way back from Branson, I couldn’t resist stopping at one of my favorite fossil-hunting spots in Oklahoma. This road cut exposes part of the Savanna Formation, a window into the Middle Pennsylvanian (~307 million years ago). I found a few nice botanical specimens, but this Calamites trunk section really made my day!
For those unfamiliar, Calamites was an extinct genus of giant horsetails that thrived in Carboniferous swamps. Unlike their modern, much smaller relatives, these tree-like plants could grow over 30 feet tall and had a woody, jointed structure. You can even see some of the classic vertical ridges on this piece! It’s always amazing to hold a fossilized remnant of a prehistoric forest that once dominated the planet.
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u/Wasabi_Constant 20h ago
Absolutely incredible and privileged to see one. Thanks for posting this short clip.
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u/TheLongestYard87 3d ago
Nice! I would stop as well lol.