SOLOMONS, Md. -- On Wednesday, Oct. 15, communities around the world celebrated National Fossil Day. This holiday is especially exciting in Southern Maryland, a region known for aquatic fossils.
The first recorded fossil in Maryland was found in 1858 by Philip Tyson in an iron mine in Prince George's County. Tyson was an agricultural chemist and found two teeth from an early Cretaceous-period dinosaur during the course of his work. Dr. Christopher Johnston named the species Astrodon after a star-shaped pattern on the teeth. Today, the Astrodon is the state dinosaur of Maryland.
Since then, locations in Southern Maryland have become sought-after fossil hotspots, like the famed Calvert Cliffs that produced megalodon teeth, a dolphin skull, a near-complete bird skeleton and numerous other fossils over the years.
Calvert Cliffs and Purse Park are popular spots for fossil hunters, but beachgoers can find fossils up and down the coast of the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River. North Beach, for example, draws in fossil enthusiasts daily to comb the beach for Miocene-era shark tooth fossils whose origins stretch back millions of years. One paleontologist said that with a little patience, you could come up with "dozens" of tiny shark teeth on the beach.
The abundance of fossils in the area is due to a few factors: One, the Miocene era was teeming with ocean life, and the Chesapeake Bay at the time was a warm, shallow sea where species thrived. These creatures died and their bodies rested in the sediment, which was constantly eroded over millions of years. And as the landscape changed, these fossils were lifted up to places where we can easily scoop them up from the sand or shallow waters.
Keep in mind, this is an extremely simple explanation. For more, you'll have to consult one of the many scientists, paleontologists and geologists nearby.
Fossil-finding groups and activities have also grown in the last 150-odd years; looking for these ancient markers of time is no longer an activity strictly for professionals. At this year's SharkFest at the Calvert Marine Museum, one fossil collector showed off a sample of his collection of "hundreds" of fossils, mostly shells and teeth.
The Calvert Marine Museum showcases and works to preserve many of the fossil finds from the area, and local groups like the Maryland Fossil Finders plan events and adventures to foster interest in science and nature. The museum and Parks and Recreation departments also plan fossil-finding expeditions and camps.
Fossils are a great gateway to sparking curiosity about history, science and nature, and the ways they're all connected -- and National Fossil Day gives us the chance to appreciate our own moment in Earth's history. We may not know how we'll be preserved, but holding something in your hands from 15 million years ago sure puts things in perspective.