Many sites are also classified by era. For instance, several sites in Virginia along the Potomac River have Miocene era fossils.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for by browsing the site, use the contact page to ask about state parks with fossil sites.
For instance, you might search “public fossil digging sites near Little Rock, Arkansas. "
Ask at the help desk about guided tours. You might also find you have a local geological survey group that hosts guided digs. [5] X Research source
For instance, you might learn that people find fossils just by walking along a local river.
If you’re searching in a river, bring a sifting pan and bucket. For a fossil pit, bring a bucket of water or a spray bottle, as well as a toothbrush, to clean up the fossils you find. You may also want a small shovel. With shale sites, bring safety glasses and gloves, as well as a hammer and chisel if the site doesn’t offer them. It’s also good to have a vest or apron with pockets, snacks and water, sunscreen, an umbrella, and knee pads.
If the area isn’t public land but it’s not an official site, check with the land owner before hunting for fossils.
Plus, they’ll help you identify anything you find. Some sites even offer nighttime guided tours in particularly hot areas. Check on minimum ages for digs if you have kids in your group.
Shale is composed of many fine layers, originally formed by sediment settling on the bottom of a lake or river. It typically breaks easily and is smooth to the touch. Because it’s made up of layers, it usually has defined edges, not rounded ones. It can be almost any color, but reddish clay-type shale is common. [11] X Research source The “flat top” is generally the thinnest edge with a flat area. Check the slab to see if you found any fossils! If you didn’t find a fossil, keep working on the rock, breaking of thin slabs of shale each time. The thinner you can go, the better.
Most fossils will be black and hard. Some will be shiny. Watch for anything that looks like it has a pattern or a shape! You can also use a colander to sift.
Most maintained sites will dig up or turn over big sections of earth that you can dig through with a small trowel. You can also rinse fossils off by the bucket. Take a small bucket of clay, and rinse it off in a river or with a hose. Pour out the mud over a colander or sift, letting the clay run through and leaving behind rocks and (possibly!) fossils. [13] X Research source
It’s also good to write down the specific location, including the bed name if it has one. Put a label on the bottom of your fossil once you get home, then reference that label in your notes. Keeping track of details like this can also help when trying to date the fossil.
