Livro de actas - Geopark Naturtejo

FIG. 1. BIG CRUZIANA RUGOSA DISCOVERED IN PENHA GARCIA DURING 2000 SUMMER FIELDWORK. THESE VERY WELL PRESERVED SPECIMENSWERE CLEANED FROM SLATES TO SHOW THEIR FINELY DETAILED APPENDAGE MARKINGS. AFTER SPECIALIZED RESTORE AND PROPER ACTIONS TOSECURE AND PREVENT ITS WEATHERING, WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD BE FOUND BY UNCOVERING NEW AREAS FROM THE SAME BEDDING SUR-FACE. ITS CAST IS NOW PART OF THE FOSSIL ART EXHIBIT.5. PROFESSIONAL IMPLICATIONSWith geology departments being reduced and oil companies employing less biostratigraphers, present studentsof paleontology must be concerned about their future careers. In this situation, the increasing mobilityacross former borders, plus the public interest in the history of life, is encouraging. It will strengthenmuseums, but even more the trend to geotourism. Because this field is so new, positions are not offeredin job lists. Rather the niches must be created by the candidates themselves in close connection with localauthorities, who are commonly not aware of the potential attractivity of their region. Geoparks and naturetrails are the best way to serve the public interest and paleontologists are the right people to do the job:they generally love nature, can offer the practical know-how, and have fascinating stories to tell about thehistory of the landscape and about the strange organisms that lived millions of years ago. Compared toformer times, the necessary promotion of a project is also facilitated by the internet and the electronic productionof illustrated folders. So, why not follow the example of Idanha-a-Nova and Carlos Neto deCarvalho? It places the paleontologist at the very source of new discoveries and allows him or her to getrooted in an interesting environment. What else do we want?REFERENCESDattilo, B. F. 2004: A new angle on strophomenid paleoecology: Trace fossil evidence of an escape response for the plectambonitoidbrachiopod Sowerbyella rugosa from a tempestite in the Upper Ordovician Kope formation (Edenian) of northernKentucky. Palaios, 19, p. 332-348.Delgado, N., 1885: Estudo sobre os bilobites e outros fosseis das quartzites da base do systema silurico de Portugal. AcademiaReal das Sciencias (Lisboa), 113p., 42 pl.Seilacher, A., 1997: Fossil Art. An exhibition of the Geologisches Institut, Tübingen University, Germany. The Royal TyrellMuseum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, 64p.2005: Arte Fóssil. Centro Cultural Raiano, Idanha-a-Nova, 144p.45