Hunting 5 Million Year Old Fossils In Florida

[DaChief]

I have hunted coins, jewelry and relics for many years now so I decided to try something new today. We moved here about three years ago and after a recent trip to a museum, I saw where people were finding prehistoric fossils in this area. After a little reading on the subject, I decided it was time to give it a try.

My 77 year old mother is in town this weekend so she and I took my two boys and headed out to one of the local streams in the area to try our luck. I had made a wire screening frame to do some sifting of sand and rocks. With our rubber boots, a camera or two an entrenching tool and the screener, we went to a parking area near a stream and walked down to the water, about 25 feet below the level of the road, and went to work.

When we arrived at the edge of the stream, I placed the screener next to the water and started shoveling sand and gravel into the frame. When it was full, I set it in the water to wash the sand away and then placed it on the shore. At first we didn't see anything as we started looking and after looking through about half of the frame, I was getting discouraged when Grandma said she thought she had something. There it was, the first Shark's tooth fossil, several million years old! After that they came pretty easy. We started finding other fossils also. One Crocodile tooth which was broken, a piece of a rib bone of something, and other marine fossils. While none were massive in size, some of the teeth were respectable. All in all we were pretty happy. Our first serious try and we got what we were looking for.

While we were looking another fellow more experienced in hunting came by. He had some nice pieces and we enjoyed a chat with him. He told us a few secrets of the trade and off he went. Here are some pics of our hunt and some of our finds. Hope you enjoy.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[newnan76]

Awsome finds, and what a great way to spend time with the kids! I too live in central florida, Pasco county to be exact and I have also done some fossil hunting in the Peace river and it's loaded with all kinds of fossils.

 

[fossis]

Welcome to the 'world of fossil hunting', great hobby.
Those are nice finds, I have gotten some teeth in trades from Florida.
Fossis.............

 

[Baggins]

Great hunt! I too love to hunt for fossils....Looking forward to more posts!
Baggins

 

[Ray in CA]

Neat finds!!! I've always enjoyed fossil hunting too. When I lived in the "Valley" I used to go up to Topanga Canyon and Simi Valley (both in California, by the way) and dig all sorts of marine fossils as well. Before that when I lived in Camarillo I would dig sand dollars out of the sandy hills behind town. I quit that when I dug up a small scorpion with my bare hands. Luckily I didn't get stung!

Ray

 

[Ryan1979]

DaChief,

That's cool stuff and you're kids are always going to remember the time they got to go fossil hunting with dad and grandma. Good for her for getting out and about and sharing the adventure with you and the boys!

Ryan1979

 

[ohannos]

I love fossilhunting too and those are great finds. My best find is a ca 70-90 millon year old mosasaur tooth found a kilometer from where i live. thanks for showing us

 

[goldencoin]

Reminds me of myrtle beach, i was able to find shark teeth about an inch and a half long- very nice

HH
-GC

 

[TreasurdiggrNY]

You did great the first time out WTG. Great day out with the family, priceless.
HH
Glenn

 

[guzz1]

HEY chief That's really cool, Enjoyed the pics of your family fossil hunting. priceless for sure . I have a creek bed by my house. Would that be a good place to start ?? its dry most of time ... I also found these fossil at a construction site , have no idea what they were,,

 

[Leon]

Sounds like a great time and you guys did pretty good for your first time out. Congrats!!!
Continued Good luck, & Happy hunting~

 

[DaChief]

Hey Guzz,

Get a shovel and a screener and hit the gravel areas in that creek. I am not sure what you have there but it clearly something. Maybe turtle shell or bone fragments? Not really sure though.

Jim

 

[stryker-one]

That is some good stuff to be doing with those young heroes. They are always going to remember being out and about "a huntin fossils with my grands". It does not get any better than that for em. Super cool!!

Looks like you got a good place too. I often wonder how many Indians used fossil shark teeth for projectile points? You know if I thought of it some hunter-gather thought it up also.

Stryker

 

[Cutaplug]

Are there fossils in any creeks in FL or just down around Venice and Peace river area? I just moved to Pasco county and wondering if I should try the creeks here or just head South.

 

[A2coins]

Freakin cool I would drive there just to get one of those if I could afford to Very very cool

 

[Professor of Engineering]

That very cool and spending time with the family is awesome!