Beachcombers often find seashells, sea glass, driftwood, and the occasional message in a bottle. However, searching for something more exciting than a candy wrapper in the sand can be a thrilling adventure.
The Thrill of Fossil Hunting
Fossils washing up on the shore excite beachgoers searching for hidden treasures. Fossil collecting combines outdoor exploration with a glimpse into prehistoric history. Instead of digging for fossils in Montana’s arid dirt, you can wade into the water with a sieve and shovel, or even use your bare hands, to hunt for ancient relics.
Collecting fossils is often easy and inexpensive, especially if you start with preserved shark teeth, which are abundant on public beaches. While fossil hunters sometimes find evidence of the enormous creatures that once swam in the oceans, they mostly find finger-sized teeth. However, discovering a Megalodon tooth is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Megalodon: A Giant from the Past
The name “Megalodon” means “great teeth,” and these mackerel sharks lived between 23 and 3.6 million years ago, from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene eras. Even though these fearsome giants are extinct, their palm-sized teeth occasionally wash up on shores, capturing the imagination of those who find them. The teeth, which can grow to several inches long, might terrify anyone thinking about what lurks in deeper waters.
Molly Sampson’s Remarkable Discovery
In Maryland’s Calvert Beach, amazing fossils that resemble those from the movie “Jaws” have been found. On Christmas Day 2022, nine-year-old Molly Sampson made such a discovery while wading in the Chesapeake Bay.
According to the Calvert Marine Museum, Molly found a gigantic Megalodon tooth while searching for fossils that morning. Her mother, Alicia Sampson, shared with USA TODAY how thrilled Molly was: “She was beyond happy.” Molly had hoped to stumble upon a Megalodon tooth ever since she began scouring the shore for shark teeth as a little girl. That Christmas, she had even asked for “shark-tooth hunting waders.” As soon as the waterproof gear arrived, the Sampson family went on their fossil-hunting adventure.
When Molly bent down and grabbed the elusive tooth with both hands, she was amazed. “I was shocked,” she told reporters. “I thought I was having a dream. It was difficult for me to accept it was true.”
Sharing Her Incredible Find
Instead of keeping her remarkable discovery to herself, Molly took the tooth to her local museum for examination. The experts were thrilled. According to Stephen Godfrey, the curator of paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum, Megalodon teeth are often found along the Calvert Cliffs, but one of that size is rare. They estimated the tooth to be 15 million years old.
In a Facebook post, the museum expressed excitement, saying, “We love seeing and hearing about the gems you find on the shore.” They also mentioned their “First Fossil Friday” program, which helps people like Molly identify fossils. The museum hopes Molly and other fossil enthusiasts have many more successful beach days.
Join the Adventure
Have you ever searched for shark teeth? Let us know, and please share this post with your fossil-loving family and friends.
