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FOSSILS
Palaeontology is the study of fossils. The difference
between palaeontology and archaeology is that archaeology is the study of the
human past, whereas palaeontology covers a much wider range of fossils. South
Africa has a rich heritage of fossilised plants and animals in rocks dating
back hundreds or even thousands of millions of years. We can get a lot of
information about their history, evolution and ecology if the correct
collecting and recording methods are used. People with a genuine interest in
palaeontology like to collect fossils as souvenirs. They do not realise that
this can destroy much of the value of the fossils and the site where they were
found. They also do not realise that it is illegal to collect without a permit. All fossils are protected by the National Heritage Resources
Act and a permit is required by anyone wishing to excavate, remove or export
them even if that person owns the land on which the fossils are found. The
object of our legislation is to conserve fossils intact until they can be
investigated by someone who has been trained to understand what they mean and
to record and publish what was found. Permits state that all fossils collected
must be stored in a museum or university. In this way the information is
available forever and to everyone in the public domain and is not kept (or
lost) by a few privileged individuals.
Footprint of a large 250 million year-old fossil vertebrate, older than the dinosaurs, have been preserved at this site near Fraserburg. Although most permits are issued to professional
palaeontologists, they can be issued to anyone who is interested, as long as
there is an agreement between the permit holder and a museum or university
regarding where the material will be stored and how it will be recorded and
catalogued. Export permits are issued to palaeontologists in other
countries who wish to borrow fossils on a temporary basis for study purposes or
for display in museums. Export permits are not issued for the sale of South
African fossils overseas. Permanent export of fossils is permitted only if the
specimens are relatively common and other examples are available in South
African institutions. If a specimen is to be destroyed or damaged in the course
of dating or analysis, more than half the specimen must be retained in South
Africa. Temporary export is permitted only if the fossils cannot be studied or
analysed in South Africa because the necessary technical equipment or
comparative collection is not available. Fossils on loan must be returned to
the lending institution within a specified time, usually three years. In cases where fossils are accidentally disturbed by mining,
engineering or agricultural activities, the finds must be reported to a
cultural institution such as a museum or university department, or the South
African Heritage Resources Agency. Please inform the South African Heritage
Resources Agency if you hear of fossils being collected illegally. The
legislation makes all fossils the property of the State and a permit is
required to buy or sell them as well as to own them. In terms of the new legislation all private collections of
fossils must be registered by April 2002.
See Registration of Private Collections of
Fossils, Archaeological Artefacts and Meteorites. There are many ways in which interested people can contribute to palaeontological knowledge and South Africa’s heritage without breaking the law or destroying evidence by mistake. Contact the South African Heritage Resources Agency or your nearest museum for more information. There are many amateur palaeontologists in South Africa and you can learn a lot by joining the Friends of your local museum or by writing to: The South African Society for Amateur Palaeontologists The Palaeontological Society of South Africa has its own web
site. A list of professional
palaeontologists who are available for contract work and who are members of the
Palaeontological Society of South Africa can be obtained from SAHRA. Application forms for permits to export, collect or excavate fossils may be obtained from: The
Chief Executive Officer The application form must be signed not only by the
applicant, but also by the Director of the institution where the fossils will
be stored. When an application is received, it is sent to members of a
committee of the South African Heritage Resources Agency for review.
If no
objections are received, the permit can be issued free of charge within a few
days. Contact Person: Mrs M. Leslie
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