ABOUT US

Hello, I am Jacqueline Plis, the founder of Ancient Creatures. A little while ago, I packed up my life in Melbourne and headed to Lightning Ridge with a clear purpose: to learn how to mine and cut opals while building a sense of community in this unique outback town.

I was drawn to the sparkle and mystery of those gems hidden in the earth, eager to immerse myself in the skills and connections that define the opal mining world.

But life has a way of surprising us, does it not? On my very first purchase of rough opal, an older miner who became my mentor sifted through the parcel and pulled out 25 bivalve shells—ancient fossils that had been waiting patiently for millions of years.

In that moment, everything shifted. Those little treasures ignited a passion I did not know I had, leading me straight into the world of paleontology.

Today, I am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Geoscience with a major in Paleontology, balancing my studies with the joy of sharing these incredible specimens with others.

At Ancient Creatures, we offer fossils and ancient fossils and opal, so you can hold a piece of history in your hands too.

It is amazing how one unexpected discovery can redirect our paths—I am grateful for mine, and I hope our collection brings a spark of wonder to yours.