Mary Anning's curiosity

Mary worked tirelessly, removing the surrounding shale. She placed her hammer at shallow angles, and flakes and small chunks of stone fell away. She must not crack the bones. It would be horrible to damage this magnificent creature.

The saucer eye grew larger. Its fierce look made Mary wonder if it had died wide-eyed. She shuddered at the thought. Was it possible that a creature like this had once roamed the seas? And how long ago was that? One thousand years? Millions of years? ...

The knowledge gave Mary even greater admiration for the creature that had once swum freely and was now being uncovered by a fossil hunter's hammer.

Excerpted from Mary Anning's Curiosity by Monica Kulling All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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