Cincinnati is one of the world’s premier destinations for prehistoric marine fossils.
Around 450 million years ago, the Ordovician Period, the greater Cincinnati region was a completely different ecosystem in an entirely different geographical location. It was submerged under a shallow, tropical sea and, therefore, the region is world renowned among paleontologists for this era, as generations of marine creatures lived, died, and were buried in the mud and formed alternating layers of fossil-rich limestone and shale.
Here are several things you can do in the area to explore, hunt, identify, and learn about fossils locally:
FOSSIL HUNTING
Trammel Fossil Park
12000 Tramway Drive, Sharonville, Ohio
free admission
Tips: Bring your own supplies and don’t forget sunscreen and water!
Supplies:
- Bucket to collect findings
- Paint brushes of different sizes
- Water sprayer filled with water
- Shovels and tools to dig (e.g. screwdrivers)
[All of the information we got about the park and prep is from Consistently Curious]
FOSSIL HUNTING
Caesar Creek State Park
Waynesville
free admission
What to know:
- You must obtain a [free] permit from the Visitor Center
- Digging tools are not allowed
- You can only collect loose fossils, keep fossils that fit in the palm of your hand, and collect in the designated area in the spillway
- Bring a bucket to collect your findings
- Don’t forget sunscreen and water
Did you know? All 76 Ohio State Parks are always 100% free to enter every day of the year. Go to OhioStateParks.org for complete details.
FOSSIL IDENTIFICATION
Archaeological Research Institute
126 W High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Bring your findings to a monthly Artifact, Rock, and Fossil Identification Day event at ARI, where you can have them identified and recorded by a professional. You can also learn how to get involved with local archaeology, upcoming research, and meet their team.
Go to exploreari.org to see when upcoming events are or simply follow along with The Rundown to stay in the know about future events.
LEARNING ABOUT FOSSILS
Museum of Natural History & Science
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
The Cincinnati Museum Center cares for a fossil collection totaling more than one million specimens, including the world’s largest and finest Late Ordovician fossil collection and the second largest sauropod skull collection in the world.
BONUS ADVENTURE
Gorge Trail
Sharon Woods (Sharonville)
free admission with Motor Vehicle Permit
While you can’t take any fossils home with you, the Gorge Trail is a scenic 0.7 mile trail that loops through a limestone gorge and features exposed fossil-rich shale, making it a great opportunity to walk a beautiful trail while exploring and spotting spot marine fossils in the loose shale.
Don’t forget your Park Passport, which you can get for free at a Great Parks Visitor Center, and where you can participate in park challenges, hike trails, take field notes, and sketch what you see at the park.
