Devonian Ecosystems Project

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Devonian Ecosystems Project

We are a paleontological laboratory conducting research on Devonian fossils at the Albany Museum in

20/05/2026

A major new open-access review, The Cape Supergroup (Middle Ordovician–Lower Carboniferous) of South Africa: A Review, has been published in The Geology of South Africa series. The paper is co-authored by Dr Rob Gess, together with Cameron Penn-Clarke, Clair Browning, and Clarisa Vorster.

The review provides an up-to-date synthesis of the stratigraphy, sedimentology and fossil record of the Cape Supergroup, including the globally significant Waterloo Farm Lagerstätte in the Eastern Cape, which has yielded exceptionally preserved Late Devonian vertebrates, plants and invertebrates.

An excellent resource for anyone interested in South African geology and palaeontology.

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gssa/sajg/article/129/1/109/727966/The-Cape-Supergroup-Middle-Ordovician-Lower

14/05/2026

Today we had the honour of welcoming members of the Amabutho wing of the ANC to the Albany Museum as part of the Devonian Ecosystems Project.

Many of our visitors were involved in the struggle during the early 1980s, making this a particularly meaningful visit. During their tour, they were introduced to South Africa’s remarkable fossil heritage and had the opportunity to see the Waterloo Farm fossils.

Dr Rob Gess shared the story of Waterloo Farm Fossil Lagerstätte and explained how these extraordinary fossils reveal a unique high-latitude ecosystem from the Late Devonian, preserving some of the earliest forests, fishes, and vertebrates known from Africa.

Thank you to our visitors for spending the morning with us.

28/04/2026

Warmest wishes on your birthday, Sinesipho Ntuntwana! 🎉🎂

We truly appreciate the positive energy, excellence, and dedication you bring to the lab. Your enthusiasm and hard work do not go unnoticed, and it’s a pleasure having you as part of the team.

Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with success, growth, and many more happy moments (and of course, plenty of cake!).

Happy Birthday! 🥳✨

14/04/2026

On Friday Rob was very happy to be joined, splitting shale at the Waterloo Farm rock sheds, by Alex and his mother Miranda, from Bath in England, as well as Alex's Makhanda granny Glyn. Alex visited the lab at The Devonian Ecosystems Project on his last visit to Makhanda and has become an avid fossil enthusiast. Journalist Theresa Mallinson (far left) also joined in for an exciting day of hands on palaeontologist shadowing !

23/02/2026

Rob got back last week from the ISELV18 post-conference fieldtrip which visited important early palaeozoic fossil localities in southern Morocco, with a particular emphasis on the Late Devonian ones. These localities provide the only sites (besides our Eastern Cape ones) to provide Late Devonian fossil fish in Africa.

He had a highly educational and very enjoyable time and thoroughly enjoyed spending informal time with the global community of early vertebrate workers.

Rob has so much to talk about since he got back, but that's just a short taste of it ! 🐟

20/02/2026

Khokela Camagu hosted the Aspire Psychosocial & Educational Support Services for Vulnerable Children, an after-school program. They are an NPO based at Tantyi Lower.

They initiate and implement programmes to support learners not only from Tantyi Lower but from schools around the Makhanda area.

Ms. Zimasa Burns-Ncamashi with staff members and learners honoured our Ecosystem project lab with a visit on Wednesday, 18-02-2026.

For the learners, hearing the story of Waterloo Farm Lagerstatte for the first time was very fascinating.

They learned about the different types of fossils and how different types of rocks influence the fossilization process. The knowledge of how our precious Makhanda is home to such great and ancient treasures was the greatest highlight.

A big thanks to Reverend Linda Dyani for organizing the visit.

12/02/2026

On 29 January, we had the pleasure of welcoming learners from Capstone Christian School (Grade 5) and Amasango Career School (Grade 5) to the Devonian Ecosystems Project.

The learners enjoyed an engaging and interactive session where they were introduced to the remarkable fossil site at Waterloo Farm and the incredible Devonian life it preserves. From ancient fishes to high-latitude ecosystems, the visit offered a glimpse into a world over 360 million years old.

A big thank you to Khokela Camagu and the assisting interns for guiding the talks and making the experience both informative and fun for the learners. It’s always inspiring to see young minds excited about science and South Africa’s rich palaeontological heritage!

🦴🌍

06/02/2026

Yesterday Ryan Nel presented on the diversity of groenlandaspid placoderms from the Late Devonian Witpoort Formation at Waterloo Farm. This was part of the placoderm session at the 18th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates (ISELV).

The talk highlighted the unexpected diversity of groenlandaspidids at Waterloo Farm, including variation in armour morphology, growth stages, and ecological roles, offering new insights into early jawed vertebrates.

Rob and Ryan have now completed their presentations and are spending the remainder of the symposium supporting and engaging with talks presented by their colleagues.

05/02/2026

Yesterday Rob presented on day one of the formal symposium at the 18th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates (ISELV), speaking about lampreys from Waterloo Farm.

Priscomyzon, previously described from Waterloo Farm, is currently the oldest of the only seven fossil lampreys described from the entire history of life, and the best known of the four Palaeozoic lampreys.

The beautiful new lamprey specimen is totally different from Priscomyzon and represents an entirely new genus, with important implications for the origin of modern lampreys.

…so watch this space.

His talk was well received and resulted in many conversations over coffee.

04/02/2026

Rob and Ryan Nel are currently in Morocco attending the 18th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates (ISELV), a major international conference held every two years.

The conference, taking place in Berrechid from 3–8 February, brings together researchers from around the world to share new discoveries and insights into the evolution of early vertebrates.

Ahead of the main meeting, Rob took part in the pre-conference field excursion (29 January – 3 February), which explored the palaeontology and associated geology of north-western Morocco — a region renowned for its exceptional fossil record.

Now, Rob and Ryan are spending the next five days attending the formal conference sessions in Berrechid. Both are scheduled to present talks on their work on the fossils of Waterloo Farm, and Rob will also be chairing the session on early tetrapod evolution.

We’re looking forward to a great week of talks, discussions, and collaboration, and to sharing more highlights as the conference continues.

🦴🌍

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Beaufort Street
Grahamstown
6139

Website

https://devoniansouth.weebly.com/

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