Prince Edward Island is gaining recognition beyond its traditional associations with Anne of Green Gables, beaches, and potatoes, as a geologist from Nova Scotia suggests the province is becoming a promising area for fossil discoveries. John Calder, a geoscientist working with the P.E.I. government to identify fossils, highlighted the increasing interest from global researchers due to a recent surge in findings on the Island.
Contrary to previous beliefs among geoscientists that P.E.I.’s red sandstone, known as “red beds,” was not conducive to preserving fossils, Calder revealed that this assumption is being proven wrong. He emphasized the importance of actively searching for fossils, as many discoveries have been made by Islanders themselves, like Patrick Brunet from North Rustico, who has unearthed numerous significant fossils.
Upcoming events like Fossil Day and a Nature P.E.I. meeting will provide opportunities for the public to view these fossil finds firsthand. Calder, who authored the book “Island at the Centre of the World” exploring P.E.I.’s geological history, explained that the province’s red rocks date back nearly 300 million years to the Permian period, offering insights into prehistoric reptiles and amphibians. The fossils found on P.E.I. are now under the care of Parks Canada and the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, with plans for a potential museum to showcase these discoveries to both locals and tourists.
