World's oldest fossil in Minamisanriku? ! Minamisanriku-cho Utatsu area fossil excavation experience

Exciting fossil excavation experience

Do you know everyone? Minamisanriku Utatsu district is the place where the world's oldest fossil "Ichthyosaur" was discovered🐬
In addition to being able to see the fossils on display, you can also excavate fossils with your own hands and take them home with you !

High school students from Taiwan's Chiayi High School participated in this day's fossil excavation experience.

Before starting the experience, you will receive an explanation from Mr. Naoya Takahashi, a fossil teacher.

Don't underestimate these ordinary stones in the ground. In some cases, the time that exists is far beyond our human life. 🪨

A mere stone is 250 million years old!

Fossils found in the Utatsu area are classified into five ranks according to their rarity.

Rarity: ★☆☆☆☆ Stone from 250 million years ago (left) and Rarity: ★★☆☆☆ Fossil of plant (right)

Rarity: ★★★☆☆ Ammonite (left) and Rarity: ★★★★☆ Fossil of cystocele (right)

An ichthyosaur is a creature with a rarity of ★★★★★ that looks a little like a dolphin. It is an extremely rare fossil that only one person out of 200 can find !

Now, let's aim for rare fossils and find more and more!

If you find a fossil that makes you wonder, "This might be it...", the teacher will give you an appraisal on the spot🔎

Some were discouraged that they had not found anything, some were overjoyed to find a fossil, and some were surprised and delighted when they found a fossilized shrimp leg, which is rarer than an ichthyosaur. 🦐

Discovered ammonite fossils (left) A large harvest that could not be covered with newspapers (right)

You can pick one of the fossils you find and take it home with you , but if you discover a rare fossil or a new species, it may be stored for research.

You can also get trading cards for the fossils you find.

The fossil excavation experience was a very exhausting activity, and the weather was hot , so I was sweating all the time. Ta.

Minamisanriku fossil excavation experience

Participation age: 3 years old or older (Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a guardian.)
Participation fee: 2,300 yen (tax included/insurance included/same rate for adults and children)

Click here to make a reservation

Hamare Utatsu shopping street on the way back

After the experience, we recommend stopping by Hamare Utatsu Shopping Street for a break.

As expected, ichthyosaurs can be found here and there in the area where ichthyosaurs were discovered☆

Hamare Exchange Facility Kamomekan

Opening hours : 09:00-16:00
Regular holiday: Irregular holidays
Reservation phone: 0226-36-3117
Address: Near Iri-mae Utatsu, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Utatsu Prefecture

Let's compare the fossils found and the fossils on display at the Seagull Museum!

WHITE SHIP Maruara

Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
Regular holiday: Monday
Phone: 0226-36-4623
Address: 96-1 Isomae, Utatsu, Minamisanriku-cho, Utatsu gun, Miyagi Prefecture

WHITE SHIP homepage

Purchase cream in Baumkuchen at WHITE SHIP Maruara, which sells delicious Baumkuchen and processed marine products.
It's a little frozen and has an irresistible ice cream texture. Dessert after exhausting physical strength is the best! We also sell soft ice cream🍦

How about a fulfilling fossil trip by excavating, observing, and eating delicious food?