Hobbies And Interests
Ohio Prehistory
Ohio is located near the center of the of the North American tectonic plate, which comprises most of the continent, parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and eastern Siberia. Throughout much of the Paleozoic Era (approximately 540 million to 250 million years ago), the region was located much closer to the the equator and frequently covered with water. These aquatic environments ranged from shallow tropical seas (similar to the present day Caribbean) to marshes and freshwater deltas. During the Pleistocene epoch (approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago), swaths of northern and central Ohio were above sea level, but covered by glaciers.
Fossils Commonly Found in Ohio
Given the state's aquatic past, marine and freshwater fossils are typically found in greater abundance than the remains of terrestrial animals and plants. Ohio's official state fossil is a marine arthropod (a relative of modern crabs and spiders) known as a trilobite. Bones of Pleistocene mammals, including the mammoth, have been excavated at sites throughout the region and are sometimes easier to spot than Paleozoic specimens. Many of the state's fossilized plants are unearthed in the form of coal.
Areas that Prohibit Fossil Hunting
Most land in Ohio is privately owned. Fossil hunters should request permission to dig before even setting foot on a parcel of land. Even most public lands are not open to collectors. All but a few state parks, historical sites and nature preserves explicitly prohibit digging or even removing accessible fossils from the area.
Areas that Permit Fossil Hunting
A small number of state parks do allow fossil hunting within specially designated areas. Most are located in southern Ohio and include Stonelick State Park in Claremont County and Hueston Woods in Preble and Butler Counties. Ceasar Creek State Park in Warren and Clinton Counties is open to fossil hunters who carry a collecting permit that can be obtained free of charge through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In northern Ohio, collectors are welcome at Toledo's Secor Metropark, Lodi City Park and Fossil Park in Sylvania. Fossil hunters should always check with the park service at all sites before beginning a dig.
Tips for Fossil Collectors
Be sure to label any unearthed fossil with the exact location and date of discovery, as well as your name or the name of the person who found it. Store fossils from different locations separately, even if they came from the same general area. Unidentified or mislabeled specimens are of little value to museums, collectors and paleontologists. If a fossil needs to be cleaned, exercise caution to minimize the risk of damage. Many fossils can be sufficiently cleaned with water alone, though some may require the use of more sophisticated equipment, such as an air-abrasive blasting machine.