Oysters, Pines and Elephants
The Story of Cyprus Fossils
written by Roys G. Kassapis
images © Roys G. Kassapis, all rights reserved
Published in English by Heritage Publications Ltd Nicosia, Cyprus 2011
Oysters, Pines and Elephants: The Story of Cyprus Fossils is the first popular book ever to be written on Cyprus fossils.
It covers in simple non-scientific language many aspects of Cyprus prehistory and geological evolution of the island, the most common fossils you can find, the collecting experience and a simple glossary of the technical terminology of the subject.
Oysters, Pines and Elephants: The Story of Cyprus Fossils is profusely illustrated with more than one hundred previously unseen pictures and ten original drawings.
Excerpts from the book, courtesy of Roys G. Kassapis & Heritage Publications Ltd
a prehistoric scene in Cyprus
This imaginary scene is reconstructed from fossil and rock evidence and is set near Ormidhia village about 100.000 years ago. In those days the area was probably covered in savvannah-like vegetation with abundant grasses and sparse trees. Herds of elephant roamed the area and terrestrial turtles crawled amongst the grass. Rivers were laying down near the shores sands and gravel, creating sand dunes and small lakes. The coastal habitat offered the Great Bustard, Otis Tarda, a large bird very common in Pleistocene Mediterranean, plenty of seeds and insects to feed on.
a tropical Pliocene sea
Between 2 and 5 million years ago, when most of Cyprus was covered by sea, the warm waters of the Mediterranean were home to a vast array of tropical life with a great number of species of sea-shells, fishes and sea mammals. All species illustrated have been found fossilised in Pliocene rocks.
when hippos roamed the pentadactylos
10.000 years ago, when the Pentadactylos range had a wetter climate, hippos used to live near the mountain streams and shallow lakes while in the undergrowth, the carnivorous genet preyed on small mammals and insects. Other exotic animals of the time were dwarf elephants and freshwater turtles.
