My passion for paleontology began when I was a little kid. Whenever I found something interesting while out on a hike, or while playing on the beach, I was so eager to study it and to learn what it was. As I grew older I became more serious about studying these objects; I wanted to find out more about them, and eventually I started hunting for sidewalk fossils.
What Are Sidewalk Fossils?
Sidewalk fossils are naturally-occurring objects that are found embedded in or around concrete sidewalks. They can be anything from shells, bones, teeth, and even plants! Any one of these objects may have been around for hundreds or thousands of years, and can tell us a story about the environment that left it behind.
Why I Love Hunting for Sidewalk Fossils
I love hunting for sidewalk fossils because it gives me the chance to engage in a sort of detective work. With every fossil I find I get to speculate, to develop hypotheses, and to try to better understand the area the object is from. Additionally, it’s thrilling to uncover something ancient, something that could have been a part of history since long before I was born.
There’s also the idea of trying to find something new and unheard of. Every sidewalk fossil I find is unique, and so it’s amazing to think that through my explorations I might be the first person to see it.
My Tools
To help me with my search, I use several tools:
- Chisel and Hammer – To uncover fossils buried in concrete
- Tweezers – To get a better grip on fragile fossils
- Magnifying Glass – To properly inspect the fossils
- Pencil and Paper – To draw the details of a fossil
All of these tools are important for securing the fossils I find, and for carefully analyzing them.
By meticulously hunting for sidewalk fossils I’ve been able to make many great discoveries, as well as to hone my skills as a paleontologist. This hoby has awed me with its beauty and taught me a lot about the past. For this reason, I will continue to scavenge for anything and everything ancient. Hunting for sidewalk fossils has been a compelling pastime of mine ever since I first stumbled across it in my youth. This unusual hobby, a form of urban exploration, involves searching pavements and sidewalks for specimens of a wide variety of interesting little fossils embedded in concrete and asphalt. For me, it has been an enjoyable way to enjoy the outdoors while contributing to a unique type of ‘archive’.
Three aspects of parking lot fossils have kept me committed to this pastime even many years later. Firstly, searching for fossils is a reflective activity for me, allowing me to take a break from the noise of everyday life. Secondly, it is a form of Americana, requiring me to explore the pavements and sidewalks of the cities and towns in which I live and traveled, preserving my travels and stories in blocks of concrete.
Thirdly, I also enjoy the exploration and discovery. What starts as a small, seemingly insignificant cracks in the concrete can often reveal a surprising and interesting little fossil. It can be a tiny coin or chink of glass, petrified wood, a leaf impression, or something from an ancient coral reef. The history of these tiny artifacts can paint a picture of the areas in which they are found, and the journey they have taken since then.
By hunting for sidewalk fossils, I am not only able to immerse myself in a unique activity that I find both peaceful and enjoyable, but I’m also able to uncover the history of the places I’ve lived and traveled to. Through this hobby, I connect with the past and present of my own urban history and I’m able to appreciate the art of a historical story in a concrete form.