Our tale, dear reader, begins deep in the earth beneath Dudley, part of the Black Country in the heart of England. The labyrinth of tunnels fashioned by infinite years of water trickling through its limestone heart hid a wonder no one expected: the Dudley Bug, or scientifically, the Trilobite. It is an extinct marine animal that lived millions of years ago, and its fossilised remains were discovered by the town miners in the 18th and 19th centuries. The discovery soon interwove itself into the folk culture of the people of Dudley. This unique invertebrate was soon found in the smoking pipes of locals, providing a novel decoration to further distinguish themselves. The creature even found itself the subject of a local rhyme: ‘Where e’er we go, we cannot find, A fossil half so good, A perfect Trilobite, because, Distinctly understood.’: In the 1920s, the Dudley Bug started representing the town in official capacities. A Dudley Bug depicted in a black diamond field was printed on the mayoral chain’s medallion. It was a clear symbol of both the mining heritage and the local folklore. The Dudley Bug became an icon of identification, embraced and thrust into limelight due to its unique historical and geological connections to Dudley. It still holds its emblematic status today. The Dudley Canal Tunnel and Limestone Mines aim to keep the Dudley Bug alive in spirit, sharing its tale and impact on the local culture. Pardon then the people of Dudley, if their hearts carry a primeval trilobite as a symbol of pride and heritage.