Beachcombing for Fossils |
Fossil collecting doesn't have to involve hammers! Beachcombing is a different way to find fossils and learn about the natural world. Large shells and fossils are concentrated along the tidal inlet seen above. The tides create currents that move the sand inland or offshore from the beach, leaving the larger material (shells and fossils) behind.
How do fossils end up on the same beach with modern shells? Sediment from Pliocene to Pleistocene times (about 3 million to 10,000 years old) are exposed offshore along some parts of the southeastern United States coastline. Waves from large storms (particularly those in the winter months) rip up the sea bottom and deposit both fossils and large shells on the beach.
In addition to beachcombing (walking and collecting at the same time), screening is a good way to fossil collect on the beach.
See some fossils from Edisto Beach