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05
Jul 2024
40-million-year-old amber stolen from Pateley Bridge attraction
A piece of Baltic amber, which is millions of years old, has been stolen from an attraction near Pateley Bridge.
Stump Cross Caverns owner Lisa Bowerman this week took to social media after a piece of amber was taken during an interactive fossil dig last Saturday (June 29).
Ms Bowerman today told the Stray Ferret the fossil, which is worth £750, was “placed high up on the cupboard” at the time. However, she believes someone took it during the session.
She said:
During the interactive digs, the kids get the chance to hold the fossils and can take a better look at them.
Ms Bowerman said it “could be an honest mistake” and someone may have taken the fossil “without realising”.
But they may also not realise the value of such a small piece of amber, she added.
The most important thing to me is the educational value, as it clearly had a fly in it. Everyone got chance to see it and hold it throughout the sessions.
The interactive digs provide a fun learning experience, and people get to see things they would never get a chance to see.
Ms Bowerman urged parents and visitors to check their children’s pockets, adding the team are working through CCTV footage to trace the fossil.
Stump Cross Caverns have not reported the incident to North Yorkshire Police.
Ms Bowerman said people should email enquiries@stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk or phone 01756 752780 to pass on information.
Megalodon tooth theft
BBC News reported that this is the second theft at the attraction in recent years.
Ms Bowerman told the BBC a megalodon tooth was taken from a similar fossil dig session last February.
An elderly man was caught on CCTV and later returned it. However, the BBC reported the man threw the tooth from his car towards the caverns, which broke it in two.
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