Museums

We think this is the oldest object in our collection.

This metamorphic rock dates from the pre-cambrian geological period and is over 542 million years old. Metamorphic rock has been changed by heat, pressure or some other natural force into the form we see today. It was collected by local geologist Beeby Thompson from Barnet Station in Hertfordshire. The collection was purchased by the museum in 1922. The pre-cambrian includes approximately 90% of geologic time. It extends from 4.6 billion years ago to the beginning of the cambrian period 5.42 million years ago. For billions of years, there was no life on the planet. It wasn't until the end of this period that single-celled organisms came into existence.