Beyond Shells and Driftwood
Most beachcombers find shells or sea glass—but some search for fossils instead.
Ancient shark teeth, especially from the Megalodon, sometimes wash ashore, offering a thrilling twist to a day at the beach.
The Hunt for Shark Teeth
Shark teeth, often finger-sized, are common on public beaches.
“Preserved shark teeth could make fossil hunting easy and inexpensive,” especially in places like Calvert Beach, Maryland.
Molly’s Rare Find
On Christmas Day 2022, 9-year-old Molly Sampson discovered a giant Megalodon tooth in the Chesapeake Bay.
“She was beyond happy,” her mom, Alicia Sampson, told USA TODAY.
“She had been searching for shark’s teeth since she was a little girl.”
A Tooth for Science
Instead of keeping it, Molly donated the tooth to the Calvert Marine Museum.
“I thought I was in a dream,” Alicia said. Experts estimate the fossil is at least 15 million years old.
