Boy Finds Chunk Of Rock That Stumps Scientists
The Moment Of Truth
Oscar couldn’t help but daydream during the long drive to the expert. He had now had the object for around a month and still didn’t feel any closer to figuring out what it was. Was it a dinosaur bone? Maybe some kind of giant Woolly Mammoth tusk? Or maybe it was a log like his father had thought all along.
Just as Oscar stopped daydreaming he looked up and he was at the store. It was finally the moment of truth and he felt his pulse race like an Olympic runner going for gold.
Oscar May
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Oscar May was like any other ordinary boy except for one detail. He had a passion for discovery. He’d drag his father out to every beach to soak up the sun but also to hunt for new things.
He loved exploring, but he had no idea what he would end up finding one day.
Oscar’s Passion
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His parents had the mindset of encouraging their son with his passions early rather than stamping them out if they were unrealistic. So when he asked for a fossil model kit for his birthday it’s exactly what they got him.
He was delighted with his gift but they didn’t know that it would spark a passion that would lead him to an incredible discovery.
Day Out
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Oscar was at it again, he wanted to go out to another beach for a fun day out. But his parents knew that he had ulterior motives. He wanted to explore and look out for special finds.
And he generally wasn’t satisfied with pretty pebbles or shells. He was always looking for something much bigger. If only they knew one day he would find it.
Giving In
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After begging for a week his parents finally gave in. They decided to take him to a beach close by in East Sussex where they lived. The beach was nice and quiet so they could enjoy lying back on beach towels while Oscar should have been playing in the sand or waiting in the water like any other kid his age.
But the 11-year-old was looking for something else. And they didn’t expect him to find it.
An Amazing Find
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Oscar was sifting through the sand, looking under rocks and logs. He had tried looking here before but felt like he didn’t have enough time. He knew that if he kept searching he’d find something special.
It was a gut feeling, and when he finally saw it, he felt his pulse start to race and his mouth start to dry. Was this really it?
Couldn’t Believe His Eyes
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Oscar saw it and couldn’t believe his eyes. It looked like a rotted branch to his father when he excitedly showed it to him. But he knew it was different. He’d end up taking it home and doing more research.
But when he found out what he actually had he knew his entire life would be turned upside down.
What Did He Have?
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Despite his father still having doubts, Oscar didn’t let that discourage him. He knew that he had found something special, it resonated with him in a peculiar way just like the gut feeling he had about the beach.
But just what had Oscar found on the beach?
Finding Out Further Information
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Oscar decided to go to Jurassic Jim, a fossil shop where the owner had a passion for fossils just like Oscar. If anyone could help Oscar then he would. But they had to go to the Isle of Wight to talk to him.
But when he told him what he believed it was he was speechless.
Getting To The Isle Of Wight
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Oscar and his parents went to the Isle of Wight to not only treat him but to get to the bottom of things once and for all. Oscar was jumping for joy not only because he was going to figure out what the fossil was but also because he would go to a fossil shop and hear what an expert had to say.
But on the way to the store, Oscar’s mind started to wonder about what was in his hands.
The Possibilities
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Oscar couldn’t help but daydream during the long drive to Jurassic Jim. He had now had the fossil for around a month and still didn’t feel any closer to figuring out what it was. Was it a dinosaur bone? Maybe some kind of giant Woolly Mammoth tusk? Or maybe it was a log like his father had thought all along.
Just as Oscar stopped daydreaming he looked up and he was at the store. It was finally the moment of truth and he felt his pulse race like an Olympic runner going for gold.
The Truth
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Jim greeted them in the store and took them to the back to take a look at what his “fossil” could be. He seemed just as eager as Oscar to find out what he had found. He told him he was surprised that he found something just lying on the beach. But when he examined it his mouth hung open.
It turns out that what Oscar had found on the beach was an Auroch horn. The catch was that it was 6,000 years old!
What Would He Do Next?
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Oscar was grinning ear-to-ear after he had heard what it was. Aurochs are still around today but found in far fewer numbers than they used to due to hunting. But to find the horn of one dating back 6,000 years made him beyond happy.
But then a question was asked, what did he want to do with it?
Value Vs. Integrity
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Oscar was made aware that the fossil he had found was worth around $190. Which for a kid of his age could buy him so many wonderful things. But he didn’t know if it was worth it in his mind. He didn’t want to part with it, after all.
He wasn’t sure whether or not his integrity was worth the money, he had a dilemma.
Making The Decision
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After a lot of thought, Oscar decided to do something that not only surprised Jurassic Jim but his parents as well. He chose a third option that no one expected and it was something he couldn’t go back on.
He decided to donate the fossil to the Bexhill museum so that he could share what he had found with anyone else that had an interest in paleontology.
