Meg Tooth on Rural Farm?

HI-McDunnogh

HI-McDunnogh

Full Member
Sep 7, 2018
194
396
Virginia
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Max
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
A buddy of mine has a rural farm with a creek that he says is spring-fed. He's found what he believes is a Megalodon, whale vertebrae, and shark's teeth in a creek on his property (his photos).

What's the best way to determine the period of these items and the geological circumstances for them ending up on a rural farm.

Thanks for any help.
 

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You nailed it. Most of the sharks' teeth in Virginia are Miocene period. Check out where his farm is with a geologic map of Virginia, and the will give you the answer, but the look Miocene to me, not newer.
 

smokeythecat said:
You nailed it. Most of the sharks' teeth in Virginia are Miocene period. Check out where his farm is with a geologic map of Virginia, and the will give you the answer, but the look Miocene to me, not newer.
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That was quick. Big thanks for the help. Is there a specific name for geologic maps that indicate period relative to location?
 

Perico said:
I would do more hunting there if I could. Looks like a great resource.
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I plan on it. He's invited me out. We're in a deep cold spell now, once it get's a little bit warmer I'd like to make the trip.
 

Can you post a photo of the other side of that tooth? I ask because I want ot see if the tooth has a bourlette (Megalodon) and no bourlette (Great White).

Make a sifter and dig and sift the gravel in the stream. I see Mako, sand tiger, Bull, lemon and maybe a hammerhead in those teeth.
 

AeroMike said:
Can you post a photo of the other side of that tooth? I ask because I want ot see if the tooth has a bourlette (Megalodon) and no bourlette (Great White).

Make a sifter and dig and sift the gravel in the stream. I see Mako, sand tiger, Bull, lemon and maybe a hammerhead in those teeth.
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Nice IDs mike. Those are not my artifacts, but when I visit my friend's property I'll try and get some more photos of the tooth. Did great whites grow large enough in prehistoric times to have teeth of that size.

Looking forward to getting out to this spot myself and see what I can find.
 

Giant shark teeth like that are too cool and Id love to find one
 

HI-McDunnogh said:
Nice IDs mike. Those are not my artifacts, but when I visit my friend's property I'll try and get some more photos of the tooth. Did great whites grow large enough in prehistoric times to have teeth of that size.

Looking forward to getting out to this spot myself and see what I can find.
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Great whites were big. My largest is 3" and I know of a a few larger so yeah they can get that big. Also let's just say it is a, GW for the moment and it is 3". It would be worth more than any 4-5" Meg tooth.
 

Miocene fossils 10-15M y.o. Its not unusual to find fossil shark teeth, including Megs in tidewater area creeks. We've had record rainfall and the erosion has exposed these teeth.
 

The best VA creeks for Miocene deposits would be those draining into the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers. Look for places where the heavier & large teeth dislodged from the clay matrix get trapped. Crevices, snags etc. Almost, like gold prospecting but different kinds of creeks.

The creeks are better after all these floods we've had in 2018. I normally hunt the cliffs, but the heavy rains have caused the top of the cliffs to slough off in many ton chunks that now cover the exposed miocene deposits. I walked 6 miles thursday after the blowout from the high NW wind, and didn't find a thing. Probably missed the best hunting by a day, but most of the base of the cliffs is totally blocked by tons of clay from the top of the cliffs. That clay has nothing in it and only blocks the miocene deposits. When the Cliffs are bad, the creeks are better.
 

Appreciate all of the insight guys.

My buddy isn't into relics/artifacts, but says his young son is (he found all of those teeth) and that he has mason jars full of those teeth. They are close to the Mattaponi River which feeds off the York and subsequently the Chesapeake Bay.

I'm usually into the metal stuff in the ground, but am a sucker for any thing old, and believe 10-15 million years old beats anything in my current metal detecting collection :)
 

HI-McDunnogh said:
Appreciate all of the insight guys.

My buddy isn't into relics/artifacts, but says his young son is (he found all of those teeth) and that he has mason jars full of those teeth. They are close to the Mattaponi River which feeds off the York and subsequently the Chesapeake Bay.

I'm usually into the metal stuff in the ground, but am a sucker for any thing old, and believe 10-15 million years old beats anything in my current metal detecting collection :)
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When you visit, definitely take your detector. That area should be great for metal detecting. The farm fields before planting in the spring will be easy digging and there should also be Native American artifacts lying on the surface. That area has it all - from fossil deposits to Native American to colonial to Revolutionary War and Civil War history.
 

dognose said:
Great finds! I would get out there asap.
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Yes, asap - after the snowing ends and melts - but go before spring planting.
 

Megalodon said:
Yes, asap - after the snowing ends and melts - but go before spring planting.
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Plan on it soon!

I'll take a handful of photos of the land/topography.
 

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