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It might be a fern. I also wonder if it could be a graptolite.

@mackenzie-smith could help determine if it is a plant and what plant it is.

Thanks!

Hi @chase-grim! Usually when I think of Ohio I think of marine deposits so animals that come to mind are bryozoans and graptolites but I don’t think any of those have zooids shaped like that or branch 3-ways (see center right of fossil). I could be mistaken as these fall out of my field of expertise. However, there is terrestrial input in marine settings and some terrestrial deposits. It looks like it could be scale leaves of a conifer in Cupressaceae (junipers and cedar family). However, I think most of the rocks in Ohio are too old for this family. My girlfriend (who’s also a paleobotanist) suggested some sort of small lycopod like Selaginella (commonly called a spike moss or club moss) which would fit estimated time wise. Where in central Ohio? Having a more precise location can help us track down how old the rock is and the nature of the deposit which can lead to better identification.

Looks like a fossilised plant

Thanks @mackenzie-smith for you feedback. If it helps with identifying, I found it in Mechanicsburg-Catawba.

@chase-grim so looking at macrostrat.org it looks like that area is Ordovician-Silurian in age meaning it not likely a plant since we don’t see a lot of land plants until the Devonian. My guess would be an animal (or animal colony) like graptolite, bryozoan or even some sort of echinoderm since they too can have branching appendages. I’m going to tag @jkallmeyer and @bheimbrock of the Cincinnati Dry Dredgers since this is their realm. It would also help to post in the Cincinnati Collectors group since the Alf is in SoCAl. I’m sure they’re interested too but your chances of getting your specimen ID’ed are higher there because local experts see it. Nice find though! I’m interested to see what it is.

Thank you again @Mackenzie-smith. I really appreciate all of this information!