Monday, July 4, 2022

Anning's fossil depot

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was an English paleontologist and fossil collector whose findings contributed tremendously in our understanding of Prehistoric life. She spent her whole life, since her early childhood, meticulously exploring and climbing over the cliffs of Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone, always in the hunt for new fossils and Jurassic treasures. She made huge discoveries such as the first ichthyosar skeleton when she was twelve years old, the first plesiosaur and pterosaur skeletons, and multiples coprolites, belemnites and ammonites. 

As a woman from that century, she was not eligible to join the Geological Society of London and many times she didn't even receive full credit for her scientific contributions. She lived underestimated by her peers and barely gaining enough money to sustain herself and her family from her little shop Anning's fossil depot.

When I discovered Mary's story I immediately felt the need to create a personal project about her life, so I could loudly spread her silenced voice and shed light on the achievements of yet another woman unfairly treated by history. I will be posting some development images during the next weeks, I hope you enjoy this creative process as much as I do! :) 








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