Paleontology, AGLY 311 at University of South Carolina - Aiken is an elective course for minors in geology, majors in biology, and other interested students.

This upper-level course has nominal prerequisites of physical and historical geology. Most students have a biology background but lack the prequisites, which are waived for them.

Field Trip #1 takes place during the second week of class, or very early in the semester. The trip is a stand-alone exercise.

See that the traces occur in three dimensions.
White clay outlines in red clayey sediment extend into the sediment.
Each student will cut (trowel or knife) a trace fossil and follow it into the sediment.
The instructor will discuss these traces as comparable (analogous) to burrows of extant marine animals. We will expand on this point later in class.
Field Trip #1 gets students out of the class and gives hands-on experience with fossil material in situ very early in the course.

Look. See. Compare with a modern analog. Conclude.
Remember this material for later in the course, when we consider trace fossils in greater detail.

Each student sketches (OR makes digital photographs) of two or three burrows.
Each student turns in a one-page report with observations and comments.

To prepare for this case study, students read "Burrows of Callianassa major Say, geologic indicators of littoral and shallow neritic environments (Robert J. Weimer and John H. Hoyt, 1964, Journal of Paleontology, v. 38, no. 4, pages 761-767, plates 123-124, 2 text-figures). This reference is 45 years old but remains highly relevant. Heavy-duty preparation is not required. The instructor and students will engage in much discussion at the road cuts. The exercise is designed as a demonstration to inspire or elicit enthusiasm.

(1) Attendance and participation are required.
(2) Students submit a one-page report with observations and comments.

http://envs.emory.edu/home/people/faculty/martin_anthony.html
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