Museu de História Natural de Sintra

 

When in Portugal, I was able to visit the Sintra Natural History Museum. Sintra is about a 40 minute train ride from Lisbon, expect a lot of stops though. The town is known for the attractions: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle). As with everywhere I visited in Portugal, a lot of walking up hills or stairs.

The museum is located in the town and consists of five (?) rooms. It houses the collection of Miguel Barbosa (1925-2019) which is made up of over 9,000 fossils and minerals. I was surprised as there was no admission fee. The person at the desk was limited in their understanding of English and I don't speak Portuguese but I tried to tell him I was willing to make a donation which did not lead anywhere.

The above image is a room off the entrance that some dinosaur fossils and images. I think the drawings were those of Mr. Barbosa who was a professional artist. I did not see a name on the drawings.

 The next room was the main gallery showcasing a lot of fossils in a very modern looking display cases.

 

 

All in all a very nice museum to visit. The fossils were very well lit and easy to study. In researching this posting, some items to see while there are the Brasileodactylus sp. from Brazil and the 16th century Nantan meteorite found in China.

A Visit to the Academia das Ciências de Lisboa Museu Geológico in Portugal

After returning from the Academia das Ciências de Lisboa Museu Geológico in Lisbon, Portugal in August of 2026, this post is about that visit. My trip began walking from the hotel near to the waterfront to Lisbon Academy of Sciences which house this museum. The Academy was founded in 1779 and has been located at the former Convent of Our Lady of Jesus of the Third Order of San Franscisco (Rua da Academia das Ciências, no. 19) since 1834. The museum was created in 1859 and still retains furniture and interior design from that time period.

Six collections make up the museum: archeology, stratigraphy, paleontology, scientific instruments, mineralogy, and lithology. Five permanent exhibits are located there: 27 geological wonders, 100 millions years of Lisbon history, fossils of the past, Portugal before man, and Portugese Prehistory.

Archeology Room

 

Mineral Room

This aragonite mineral specimen from a pyrite mine in Preguica (Alentejo) looks like a coral. It was formed by calcium carbonate precipitation forming this stalactite.

 

Their crown jewel fossil is of a Portuguese stegosaurus Miragaia longicollum from Atouguia da Baleia, Peniche. Collected in 1958-59 by Geoges Zbyszewski (1909-1999). The specimen on display contains original fossil, casts, and 3D printed parts. The dinosaur lived in the Late Jurassic Period.

 This image is of a Roman bronze plate from the 1st century A.D. It was found in 1876 in a mine at Algares. The plate is Roman legislation listing the rules for public baths, proclamations, and payments to workers.

Paleontology Room

The fossil room has an extensive collection of Portuguese fossils from all of its geological time periods. The wall cabinets hold more specimens in labeled plastic bags. I would assume more fossils are stored below the display cabinets.

One stand out fossil was a super crocodile skull fossil Gavialosuchus americanus lusitanicus (Stellards). It was found Chelas (east of Lisbon) and lived about 15 mya (Miocene Epoch). Learn more at their website.

One treat was the view at the end of fossil room that had a small balcony. It had a lot of potted plants but one could see out over the city from the window. 

My visit was enjoyable and I got quite a bit of exercise walking the hilly route to and from the museum. Hopefully, future posts will highlight some of the more geological treasures on display there.

 

https://www.lneg.pt/en/geological-museum/ 

 

 

 

Knemiceras uhligi Ammonite Fossil

This picture is of a large (greater than 30 cm wide) Knemiceras uhligi (Choffat) ammonite fossil. It was found at Baforeira, Parde, Cascais, Portugal and dates to the Cretaceous Period (Albian, about 110 million years ago). As of August 2026 on display near front entrance of Academia das Ciências de Lisboa Museu Geológico in Portugal.

Fish Gular Plate Fossil

Fish gular plate fossil found in the Jeffersonville Limestone. It dates to the Middle Devonian Period. Specimen is from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 6 cm.

Maturifusus Gastropod Fossil

This fossil is a Maturifusus (J. Szabó, 1983) gastropod fossil found in the clay pits at Buttenheim located in the state of Bayern (Bavaria), Germany. I think it is located in the Lias lithostratigraphic unit which would date to the Jurassic. Field of view is about 3 mm. 

Thanks to Dieter Ketelsen of Hamburg, Germany for the fossils/matrix. Also I appreciate Michael at foraminifera.eu for bringing the matrix the fossil was in and paper guide to the fossil collection area back in 2012. My cousin Kenny, now that he is retired, was able to study this matrix recently using a microscope. Thanks Kenny for the picture.

Buttenheim Ammonite Fossil

This fossil is an ammonite fossil found in the clay pits at Buttenheim located in the state of Bayern (Bavaria), Germany. I think it is located in the Lias lithostratigraphic unit which would date to the Jurassic. Field of view is about 6 mm. The inside of the fossil is chalky but you can see the sutures which might be in some sort aragonite.

Thanks to Dieter Ketelsen of Hamburg, Germany for the fossils/matrix. Also I appreciate Michael at foraminifera.eu for bringing the matrix the fossil was in and paper guide to the fossil collection area back in 2012. My cousin Kenny, now that he is retired, was able to study this matrix recently using a microscope. Thanks Kenny for the picture.

Sponge Holdfast Fossil in New Albany Shale

Conodont (on right side) with sponge holdfast fossils found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 6 mm.

 

New Albany Shale Conodont Fossil

Conodont fossil found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 3mm.

 

Orbiculoidea Brachiopod Fossil

 

Orbiculoidea (d'Orbigny, 1847) brachiopod fossil found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 3mm.

 

Foerstephyllum Coral Fossil

This specimen is a Foerstephyllum (Bassler, 1941) coral fossil. It dates to the Ordovician Period and was found in Jefferson County, Kentucky USA. Thanks to Wes for these fossils.

 

Faith and Science Presentation

On June 25, 2026, I attended a presentation by Dr. Kate Bulinski, Professor of Environmental Science at Bellermine University who talked about Faith and Science as part of the Theology on Tap Summer Speaker Series. It was a well attended talk after the group had a nice dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Albany, Indiana, USA.

I learned about Nicolas Steno (1638-1686) who is considered the "Father of Stratigraphy" and how he identified fossil shark teeth. Also she talked about an upcoming event November 15, 2026, Gold Mass for Faith and Science featuring a lecture from Brother Guy Consolmagno of the Vatican Observatory. I attended one of his lectures years ago at Southeast Christian Church about science and religion where he signed one of his books on astronomy I had brought.

Dr. Bulinski talked about relationship between science and Catholicism. She identified an number of famous Catholic scientists and their contributions in her presentation. The event ended with a question and and answer session where one question was what was her favorite fossil. She replied, edrioasteroid which are found in the Ordovician rock around the Cincinnati, Ohio, USA area where she went to university and studied paleontology/geology for a Ph.D. 

I remember when Kate started teaching at Bellermine around 2008 or 2009. I was an officer in the KYANA Geological Society and contacted her about giving a presentation at one of the meetings which she graciously did. 

Her research around the Louisville area involves workshops for K-12 teachers involving Waldron Shale fossils and study of the paleo-ecology of Devonian Coral fossil reef found at the Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana USA.

Drymopora auloporoidea Coral Fossil

 

This fossil appears to be a Drymopora auloporoidea (Davis, 1885). It was found in the Devonian Period layer of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The fossil was from the collection of James Conkin.

First named in the 1885 publication Kentucky Fossil Corals A Monograh of the Fossil Corals of the Silurian and Devonian Rocks of Kentucky by William J. Davis.

 

Productid Brachiopod Fossil

 

This brachiopod Productid was part of the James Conkin collection. It was found in Larue County, Kentucky, USA in the St. Louis Formation. 

The label might not be quite right as it looks like something that might be from the New Albany Shale. 

 

 

Red Ammonoid Fossil

I returned to St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church located at East Eighth and Spring Streets, New Albany Indiana, USA. The fossil appears in the floor of the church alter area has strips of Red Verona or Rosso Verona marble in it. This rock dates to the Upper Jurassic Period of the Rosso Ammonitico Formation, Oxfordian Stage, Verona Province, Venetia Region of Italy.

 

In a previous post, I listed that the building was dedicated on December 12, 1858 primarily serving the German-speaking immigrants of the area. In the 1920s, renovations brought Carrara Italian marble to the alters, communion rail, sanctuary floor, baptismal font and wainscoting.  

 Sadly, my visit there was for the funeral of my Aunt Ruth Popp (1934-2026). May she rest in peace. 

Redwood Fossil

 

Here are pictures of a piece of petrified redwood found in Wahoe County, Nevada USA. It dates to the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

Yellow Birch Wood Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified yellow Birch wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

 

Thanks to Kenny for the pictures. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Petrified Wood Fossil of Texas

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Petrified Wood Fossil found in Texas

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Texas Petrified Wood Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a piece of petrified wood found in the Yegua Formation of Madison County, Texas USA. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture. Fossil collected in 2024. 

 

Devonian Fish Bone Fossils

 

These pictures are of a somewhat unique and rare fossil found in the Louisville Kentucky USA area. The almost fossil bare New Albany Shale sometimes reveals a blue material that are the fish bone remains from the late Devonian Period. These fossils were found in the Blocher Formation of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The main pieces is about 2 cm in length. 

The fossils once belonged to Barbara Conkin(1928-2019) who taught geology at Jefferson Community College. Thanks to Kenny for taking these pictures.