KNYSNA NEWS - The 16-year-old Aidan Malan, a Knysna High School pupil, never expected his childhood dream to come true when he went for a walk on the beach between Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay on 27 April.
But, as it turned out, he made a significant palaeontological discovery - a bone thought to belong to the extinct giant buffalo and estimated to be at least 85 000 years old.
The long-horned buffalo, also known as the giant buffalo, had enormous horns that extended laterally out from the skull.
Childhood interest
"Aidan has always been interested in exploring and having adventures, and ever since he was a young child, he has been fascinated by the idea of finding a fossil," said Dr Charles Helm of the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience at Nelson Mandela University.
Helm, who is currently based in Canada, is the lead author on a paper that he hopes will include Aidan's discovery of a bovid metapodial, a fused bone from the forefoot or hindfoot of animals like the extinct long-horned or giant buffalo.
"In one place the bone can be viewed in cross section, and shows two separate marrow cavities, evidence of two bones that have fused. It is probably at least 85 000 years old and possibly quite a bit older. It probably eroded out of offshore deposits in the sea off Buffalo Bay, before being 'rescued' by Aidan," said Helm.
Hope to find human bones
Aidan's discovery shows that Pleistocene fossil bones can be found in embedded rocks. The discovery raises hopes that if the search continues, human bones will eventually be found embedded in these Aeolianite rocks, says Helm, who reported the find of a "dinosaur party" of footprints in the Brenton area in a scientific paper last year.
Helm says if human bones are also found, it would be very special and he described Aidan's find as fabulous.
The treasured find
Said Aidan: "I used to search for fossils among rocks and in the sand. This time, however, it happened to be lying right on the surface, directly in front of me.
I honestly don't think I have ever run faster than I did to collect what I believed was a treasure. When I picked it up, it was clearly bone.
From what I had previously learned, bone has a honeycomb-like structure. The moment I recognised that structure, I knew with certainty that it was indeed a bone.
"The adrenaline stayed with me throughout the walk home. As soon as I arrived, the first person I wanted to show was my dad. After telling him about the discovery, I carefully kept the specimen safe and took it to school the following Monday.
"There was one teacher I trusted to have both the knowledge and patience to help me: Ms Naomi Juyn. That morning, I showed her the bone and asked whether she had any idea what it might be or where it had come from."
Teachers' praise
Juyn has only praise for Aidan, saying his "earnest trustworthiness, intelligence and pleasant demeanour always stand out". She also involved another of Aidan's teachers, Mrs Morgan McLachlan, whose praise for Aiden was also notable.
Said McLachlan: "His discovery is a remarkable example of his inquisitive nature and commitment to exploration.
This achievement does not surprise me in the slightest. I have no doubt that this is only the beginning of many incredible accomplishments to come. He is one of those rare students who leaves an impression through his character, dedication and love of learning."
At present, the bone is in safekeeping at the school and Helm will try to find a suitable museum where others can admire Aidan's find.
Helm said coming on top of other recent discoveries in that area, Aidan's discovery confirms that the Knysna-Brenton area holds much promise.
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