How to Find Fossils in South Alabama
Southern Alabama is known worldwide for the Alabama zeuglodon whale fossils unearthed there in the mid-1800s by Albert Koch. Many of the fossils are exhibited in museums across Europe. Alabama fossil hunting is not limited to whales, however. Fossilized shells, ferns and shark teeth are just a few of the specimens that also can be found in the mud and shale of southern Alabama. You may have to dig, walk or climb, but if you search carefully, fossils are there for the finding.
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Things You'll Need
- Landowner's permission
- Map (grid overlay optional)
- Trowel
- Shovel
- Water source
- Bucket
- Sieve
- Sample bags
- Labels
Instructions
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Prepare
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Consider what type of fossils you wish to find and what kind of work you want to do to find them. Research what the sites are like and what the fossils found there look like.
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Map out the area you are going to search and contact the landowner. The Birmingham Paleontological Society can sometimes help you find a site.
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Put on appropriate clothing. You will be hiking and climbing through woodlands and rocky outcroppings that are home to snakes, bugs and poison ivy. Wear sturdy shoes and a long-sleeved shirt.
Andalusia
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Consider visiting Andalusia, below Point-A Dam on the Conecuh River, which is an Eocene Epoch site where you may find shark teeth and other fossils as well.
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Search in that area for mixed rock and clay deposits. Dig up the rocks with the trowel or shovel; put them in a bucket. Carry them to the water to wash them.
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Fill the bucket with water and rinse the rock mixture.
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Dump the rock mixture onto the sieve and rinse it with water to remove most of the dirt. Examine each rock for fossils.
Weiss Lake and Shale
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Travel to locations near Weiss Lake and in the mountain road cuts along Interstate 59. Look for outcroppings of shale that contain shells and other fossils.
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Search the layers of loose shale for shells, ferns, and tracks and traces left by prehistoric invertebrates.
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Look for variations in the colors of the shale rock. Shale fossils were formed from prehistoric layers of mud. Prime rocks for finding fossils are those in which multiple layers were laid down, one on top of the other.
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Tips & Warnings
It is important to have a good fossil guide so that you know what you are looking for. A visit to a museum or the Birmingham Paleontological Society is a good step to take before heading out into the field.
Be aware of dangers like snakes, spiders and falling rocks. The Happy Scientist has photos on his website of black widow spiders found while collecting fossils.
References
- Photo Credit fossil image by Goran Bogicevic from Fotolia.com
