Fossils Discovered by Darwin Found on a Closet

No one would of guessed that on an old safe, located on the British Geological Survey, near Keyworth, an immense treasure remained forgotten for the last 165 years.

The "discovery" was made by  paleontologist Dr. Howard Falcon-Lang who couldn't believe his eyes when he read the signature on some of the trustee fossils, the ONE himself Mr.“C. Darwin Esq.”on his famous expedition on board the HMS Beatle, in 1834

The collection of ‘unregistered fossil plants’ was found in one of the Survey’s windowless vaults in Keyworth, in central England.

These comprise hundreds of beautiful thin sections of fossil wood dating from the early nineteenth century.

The collection was assembled by botanist Joseph Hooker (Darwin’s best friend) while he was briefly employed by the Survey in 1846.

The collection is particularly interesting in the way it sheds light on the vibrant and sometimes murky world of early nineteenth century science and we can have a lot at it here