““Fieldwork, May to July,Fieldwork, May to July,2004, on the island of2004, on the island of

Hvar, Croatia “Hvar, Croatia “

PROJECT TEAMPROJECT TEAMUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta

Michael Caldwell, Arjun Keswani, Murray Gingras, Cajus Diedrich, Alex Michael Caldwell, Arjun Keswani, Murray Gingras, Cajus Diedrich, Alex Dutchak, Timon BullardDutchak, Timon Bullard

Croatian National Museum of Natural HistoryCroatian National Museum of Natural HistoryJakov Radovcic, Katarina KrismanjicJakov Radovcic, Katarina Krismanjic

Anne SchulpAnne Schulp

Project Funding:Project Funding:National Geographic, CRE Grant & NSERCNational Geographic, CRE Grant & NSERC

Croatia

Dubrovnik

Split

Sibenik

Zadar

RijekaKarlovac

Zagreb

Gospic

PulaKrk

Kres Rab

Pag

Brac

Lastovo

Korcula

Mijet

Hungary

Slovenia

BosniaHerzegovina

Osijek

100 km

Otok

Kornat

Adriatic Sea

HvarVis

Starigrad

Jelsa

VrboskaSection 1

Section 2

Neolithicsite

Section 3

Rudine

Bay of Z

ukova

Bay of StarigradBay

of Mes

linica

Nicola’s quarry

Bay of Vrboska

4315,47

80 9284 88 96

5 km

84

88

1613,63

Tracksite

Hvar

The island of Hvar is part of theThe island of Hvar is part of theDalmatian Island chain along theDalmatian Island chain along theAdriatic Coast of Croatia. ItalyAdriatic Coast of Croatia. Italyforms the western shore of theforms the western shore of theAdriatic. Hundreds of years ago,Adriatic. Hundreds of years ago,during quarry operations to collectduring quarry operations to collectplaty limestones for roofing tiles,platy limestones for roofing tiles,numerous fossils of fishes and numerous fossils of fishes and marine lizards, all dating from themarine lizards, all dating from theearliest part of the Upper Cretaceousearliest part of the Upper Cretaceouswere collected. Many of these endedwere collected. Many of these endedup in the collections of wealthy up in the collections of wealthy people and churches. Today,people and churches. Today,most of these specimens are inmost of these specimens are inmuseum collections in Vienna,museum collections in Vienna,London, Trieste, Zagreb, andLondon, Trieste, Zagreb, andMunich. In the summer of 2004Munich. In the summer of 2004we returned to Hvar to prospect forwe returned to Hvar to prospect formore specimens - on of the first such more specimens - on of the first such scientific projects in 100 years.scientific projects in 100 years.

View of the northern peninsula from the highlands to the east. The village of Vrboska is View of the northern peninsula from the highlands to the east. The village of Vrboska is to the right of center. The highland to the north (top right in the photo) is the Island of to the right of center. The highland to the north (top right in the photo) is the Island of Brac.Brac.

The village of Vrboska as seen the front step of our pension. The roofs of the buildings are tiledThe village of Vrboska as seen the front step of our pension. The roofs of the buildings are tiled now, but historically they were covered in fossil-bearing platy limestones.now, but historically they were covered in fossil-bearing platy limestones.

Hvar is covered in beautiful fields of lavender.Hvar is covered in beautiful fields of lavender.

We walked the coastline of the entire northern peninsula, measuring the rocks, observing and We walked the coastline of the entire northern peninsula, measuring the rocks, observing and collecting fossils, and developed a detailed understanding of the ancient environments in whichcollecting fossils, and developed a detailed understanding of the ancient environments in which these sediments were deposited.these sediments were deposited.

In blistering 40C+ heat, we opened a large quarry in the anticline above Vrboska. Amidst relicIn blistering 40C+ heat, we opened a large quarry in the anticline above Vrboska. Amidst relic from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Venetian Empire, to name but a few, we went hunting forfrom ancient Greece, Rome, and the Venetian Empire, to name but a few, we went hunting forancient reptiles.ancient reptiles.

An example of an old stone house with its stone roof, nestled in the ancient vineyards that coverAn example of an old stone house with its stone roof, nestled in the ancient vineyards that coverthe lowlands on Hvar. People have been living here for thousands of years…the evidence is everywhere. the lowlands on Hvar. People have been living here for thousands of years…the evidence is everywhere. In the background you can see large stone fences…the rock was moved into fences in order to expose the In the background you can see large stone fences…the rock was moved into fences in order to expose the thin red soil, or terra rossa that is a central soil characteristic arising from the erosion of limestones.thin red soil, or terra rossa that is a central soil characteristic arising from the erosion of limestones.

The FossilsThe Fossils

AlgaeAlgae

AlgaeAlgae

Ichno fossils:Ichno fossils:Tracks and tracesTracks and traces

Thalassinoides sp. (a compressed shrimp burrow)Thalassinoides sp. (a compressed shrimp burrow)

We also discovered and excavated a dinosaur trackway. This We also discovered and excavated a dinosaur trackway. This discovery made world headlines as it was the first known discovery made world headlines as it was the first known dinosaur trackway from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.dinosaur trackway from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Fossil MolluscsFossil Molluscs

SNAILSNAILOYSTEROYSTER

Some of the invertebratesSome of the invertebrates

Rudist bivalves and other small oysters (rudists were large bivalved molluscs with asymmetricalRudist bivalves and other small oysters (rudists were large bivalved molluscs with asymmetrical valves, unlike a clam. Rudists had one valve shaped like a large ice cream cone, while thevalves, unlike a clam. Rudists had one valve shaped like a large ice cream cone, while theother was a small cap that fitted over the top of the cone.)other was a small cap that fitted over the top of the cone.)

Colonies of rudists in life position (you are looking down the top of the cone)Colonies of rudists in life position (you are looking down the top of the cone)

FishesFishes

A diverse fauna of teleosts and pycnodonts A diverse fauna of teleosts and pycnodonts is known from Hvar.is known from Hvar.

Marine LizardsMarine LizardsDiscovering new specimensDiscovering new specimens

of these animals was the goalof these animals was the goalof this projectof this project

Aigialosaurus dalmaticusAigialosaurus dalmaticus

Dutchak, A., and Caldwell, M.WDutchak, A., and Caldwell, M.W 2006. Redescription of 2006. Redescription of Aigialosaurus dalmaticusAigialosaurus dalmaticusKramberger, 1892, a Cenomanian mosasauroid lizards from Hvar Island, Croatia. Kramberger, 1892, a Cenomanian mosasauroid lizards from Hvar Island, Croatia. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43:1821-1834.Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43:1821-1834.

Publication from Caldwell Lab:Publication from Caldwell Lab:

Opetiosaurus bucchichiOpetiosaurus bucchichi

Alex R. Dutchak and Michael W. Caldwell, A redescription of Alex R. Dutchak and Michael W. Caldwell, A redescription of Aigialosaurus Aigialosaurus (=(=OpetiosaurusOpetiosaurus) ) bucchichibucchichi(Kornhuber, 1901) (Squamata: Aigialosauridae) with comments on Mosasauroid Systematics(Kornhuber, 1901) (Squamata: Aigialosauridae) with comments on Mosasauroid Systematics

Manuscript in Preparation:Manuscript in Preparation:

Pontosaurus lesinensisPontosaurus lesinensis(Type Specimen,Vienna)(Type Specimen,Vienna)

Publication from Caldwell Lab:Publication from Caldwell Lab:Pierce, S., and Pierce, S., and Caldwell, M.W.Caldwell, M.W. 2004. Redescription and phylogenetic position 2004. Redescription and phylogenetic positionof the Adriatic(Upper Cretaceous; Cenomanian) dolichosaur, of the Adriatic(Upper Cretaceous; Cenomanian) dolichosaur, PontosaurusPontosaurus lesinensislesinensis(Kornhuber, 1873). (Kornhuber, 1873). Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24:376-389., 24:376-389.

Prior to our arrival in Zagreb, a new specimen ofPrior to our arrival in Zagreb, a new specimen of Pontosaurus Pontosaurus waswasdonated to the museum. We are currently describing this new anddonated to the museum. We are currently describing this new andExciting specimen.Exciting specimen.

SedimentologySedimentology&&

Depositional EnvironmentsDepositional Environments

We measured and described We measured and described rock units from ancientrock units from ancientenvironments similar to environments similar to

modern back reef lagoonsmodern back reef lagoonsand intertidal flatsand intertidal flats

Open OceanOpen Ocean

Barrier ReefBarrier Reef

Patch ReefsPatch Reefs LagoonLagoon

CoastCoast

This schematic nicely illustrates a similar sort of environment as theThis schematic nicely illustrates a similar sort of environment as theone we have interpreted from the sediments of Hvar. The fossil reptilesone we have interpreted from the sediments of Hvar. The fossil reptilesare found in sediments deposited in the lagoonal setting away from theare found in sediments deposited in the lagoonal setting away from thereef.reef.

Evironments like this can be restricted and hypersaline on a rather frequent basis. Evironments like this can be restricted and hypersaline on a rather frequent basis. Animals that die in such hostile environs and often remain unscavenged. If fossilized, Animals that die in such hostile environs and often remain unscavenged. If fossilized, they are often beautifully preserved.they are often beautifully preserved.