The Bearsden Shark

In 1981 Stan Wood found and recovered, from the Manse Burn, a previously unknown, metre long fossil shark which was identified as a the complete skeleton of a member of the Stethacanthidae family of prehistoric sharks. This fossil is now on display in the Hunterian Museum.   Neil Buchanan of the Bearsden Shark Group will give an overview of where the shark and Scotland were 339 mya reflecting the climate, geography and geology. He will outline the discovery of the shark, talk about its finder and about the Manse Burn site. He will also talk about Prof John Long’s book on the history of sharks and will report on the new sculpture project including its design, material, location and fundraising. The Geological Society of Glasgow is supporting this sculpture project through a grant.

Further Reading:

Wood S.P., 1982, New basal Namurian (Upper Carboniferous) fishes and crustaceans found near Glasgow – Nature 297 pp 574-577

Wood S.P., 1983, The Bearsden Project or Quarrying for Fossils on a Housing Estate – The Geological Curator 3, pp4 13-434