You have likely heard the saying, “She sells seashells by the seashore.” This phrase references the first woman paleontologist, MARY ANNING (1799-1847). Her contributions to the field of paleontology include the fossil discoveries of ichthyosaur, plesiosaur, and pterosaur.
Born in Lyme Regis, England, Mary and her father walked the “seashore” near their home in search of fossils. Since her father’s cabinetmaking job didn’t provide enough to sustain the family, they sold their finds to tourists vacationing on the coast, including well-known scientists. When Mary’s father died, leaving them destitute, her fossil-hunting skills provided a way for them to survive. As she got older, Mary taught herself how to identify, illustrate, and recreate fossilized bones into their original configuration, significantly increasing the money she could ask for each sample.
Mary’s childhood friend, Henry De la Beche used some of her fossil finds to create the first work of paleontological art, Duria Antiquior. He later sold these and gave the money to Mary. One of her most contentious finds, a nearly complete plesiosaur, caused so much dissention that it was rumored to be fake.
Later, famous scientist Georges Cuvier, accepted that he made a mistake in disputing this find. However, being a female in England, with little formal education and less money, proved to be the ultimate hardship. Several male scientists bought her fossils and did not credit her with the finds when they published their work. She was denied admittance to the Geological Society of London later.
Mary Anning died in 1847 of breast cancer, leaving behind a legacy that paved the way for women paleontologists.
Thanks to Dr. Larry B. Collins for this feature. Rock on!
For further information:
- Natural History Museum: Mary Anning: the unsung hero of fossil discovery
- UC Museum of Paleontology: Mary Anning
- Paleontological Research Institution
Photo credit: Credited to ‘Mr. Grey’ in Crispin Tickell’s book ‘Mary Anning of Lyme Regis’ (1996), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons