We Dig Ammonites

Fact, Folklore, and History

Jodi Summers, Andy Secher, Neil Landman

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Hardback

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English

Columbia University Press
23 December 2025

Ecological science, the Biosphere; Palaeontology; Rocks, minerals & fossils

Ammonites swam in Earth's ancient seas for nearly 400 million years, diversifying into more than 10,000 species before meeting their demise during the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. These spiral-shelled invertebrates are among the most abundant fossils in the geologic record, found from snowcapped Himalayan peaks to parched South American arroyos. People around the world have long been drawn to the mystery and beauty of ammonite fossils. These preternaturally preserved creatures have inspired age-old myths and legends, and studying their secrets has spurred crucial scientific discoveries.

Jodi Summers-an accomplished journalist and passionate fossil collector-guides readers through the entire arc of ammonite history. She explores the evolution, proliferation, extinction, and fossilization of these captivating cephalopods, situating the story in the progression of deep time. Summers also prospects prime fossil-hunting locations, sharing tips and inside scoops for enthusiasts and collectors in search of notable specimens. She takes us along on her globe-spanning journeys: from the desert to the seashore, up mountains and down canyons, to the backrooms of natural history institutions and the floors of fossil shows.

We Dig Ammonites features hundreds of lavish color photographs of rare specimens that showcase the splendor of these magnificent mollusks. This book is an ode to one of the world's most compelling fossils and an invitation to catch a glimpse of vanished epochs.

By: Jodi Summers
Foreword by: Andy Secher, Neil Landman
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 279mm, Width: 216mm,
ISBN: 9780231213929
ISBN 10: 0231213921
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 23 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Foreword by Andy Secher Foreword by Dr. Neil H. Landman 1. The Aristocratic Ammonite 2. Orders and Disorder 3. Named for a God 4. Ammonites Are Tools to Mark Time 5. Death andFossilization 6. Calcite and Aragonite 7. The Animal in the Ammonite Shell 8. Size Matters between Ammonites 9. What Ammonites Ate 10. What Ate Ammonites 11. Heteromorphs Are a Wacky Part of Evolution 12. Ammonites Are Sacred 13. They Arrived After One Extinction and Expired from Another 14. What You End Up Collecting Closing Words Epilogue for We Dig Ammonites, by Neal L. Larson Acknowledgments and Thank Yous Bibliography/Additional Resources Index

Jodi Summers is a field associate in paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History. She was an editor for several rock music magazines and has written three books on the music industry as well as several blogs on historic landmarks and other properties. Her ammonite collection includes more than a thousand specimens. Andy Secher, a field associate in paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, is the author of Travels with Trilobites: Adventures in the Paleozoic (Columbia, 2022) and The Trilobite Collector’s Guide (Columbia, 2024). Neil H. Landman is curator emeritus in the Department of Invertebrate Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History.

Reviews for We Dig Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History

Jodi Summers brings a rare blend of deep paleontological expertise and decades of hands-on field experience to We Dig Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History. Her passion for ancient life shines through every page, making this an essential and engaging read for fossil enthusiasts and curious minds alike. -- Anthony Lindgren, owner of Lindgren Fossils, LLC