How to Dig for Fossils

Finding a Site

Decide what kinds of fossils you want to hunt for. Different sites are going to have different kinds of fossils. For instance, one site might be heavy in plant life, while another area might have a lot of fish. If you're looking for a specific type of fossil, pay attention to any information listed about the sites you're looking at, as they'll usually let you know what you can find there. Many sites are also classified by era. For instance, several sites in Virginia along the Potomac River have Miocene era fossils.

Look for state parks that offer fossil hunting. While you may be required to get a permit, some state parks allow and even encourage fossil hunting. Check on your government's state park website to see if there are any in your area. 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.

Check your area for designated fossil sites open to the public. Many fossil sites are not located in parks. Instead, they are standalone sites. Do a quick internet search to see if there are any in your area. For instance, you might search "public fossil digging sites near Little Rock, Arkansas."

Talk to your local natural history museum. Your natural history museum will likely be connected with paleontologists who go on digs around your area. They can give you tips on where to look or when there will be guided tours. Ask at the help desk about guided tours. You might also find you have a local geological survey group that hosts guided digs.

Look on local fossil hunting forums or social media groups. While big sites will have good advertising, you can find many smaller sites just by checking in with local enthusiasts. Search social media for fossil-hunting groups or use a search engine to find forums about fossil hunting in your area. For instance, you might learn that people find fossils just by walking along a local river.

Visiting a Site

Bring supplies with you. While some sites have supplies on hand, others will leave you to your own devices. Call ahead to see what supplies your site offers, so you know what you need to bring. 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.

Pay the fee. Many maintained fossil sites charge a fee for you to dig there. Often, the fee is nominal, such as $5 USD a person. However, some places do charge by the hour, so be sure to check ahead of time. If the area isn't public land but it's not an official site, check with the land owner before hunting for fossils.

Check for guided digs if you're new to fossil digging. At many sites, you can just go out and dig on your own. However, if you've never dug for fossils before, you might want to go on a guided dig. The guides will show you how to dig, as well as what you're looking for. 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.

Searching for Fossils

Split shale to find fossils. Place a thin chisel on the flat top of shale near the edge. Tap the chisel lightly with a hammer, then move along the edge in either direction. Tap the chisel again. Keep moving along the same line near the edge, until a thin slab of shale falls off that side. 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. 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.

Sift through river sand to find fossils. Wade into the water, and scoop a handful or trowel-ful of river gravel into your sifter. Place the sifter under the water to rinse off the excess dirt. Sort through what's leftover for fossils. 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.

Unearth fossils by digging in clay and sand. Use a small shovel to gently break up the dirt. As you do, look for small fossils, which can be anywhere from the size of a corn kernel up to the size of a golf ball. Bones mammals and reptiles can be much, much larger, of course. If you find a chunk you think might be a fossil, use some water to rinse it off. 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.

Document where you found the fossil. It's good practice to keep records of where you find fossils if you're out on your own. The easiest way to do that is to take a photograph. When taking the photo, use your finger to point out where you found the fossil, and take the photo from multiple angles. 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.

Hand back any rare finds. While you'll likely be able to keep more common fossils, such as many fish and plant fossils, you may be asked to give up rare finds. Rare finds, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and turtles, will usually go to a museum.