| Fossil, a little hamlet in Lincoln County, is about fifteen miles west of Kemmerer. It was named from the district in which it is located, the famous fossil field of Lincoln County. In the late 1870's this fossil field was discovered by Jesse and John Bell, two trappers. E. W. Holland, one of the first settlers in the fossil field country, first dug and marketed the fossils. Fossils of fish that resemble the herring, bass, pickerel, and sunfish of present day are found in the rock formations of the fossil field. Both fresh and salt water fish are found. The explanation most frequently given is that all of these must have been salt water fish at one time. It is well known, of course, that the locality was once part of the ocean bed. Fossils of insects, palm leaves, berries, queer birds, crawfish, snakes, and garfish have been found in this area. (WPA) Named for the nearby Fossil Cliffs which contain fossil fish beds. (Annals of Wyoming 14:3) |
