So the wife and I were fortunate enough to take a few days and head down to Jekyll Island for a few days to enjoy the sun and surf before she starts back to the new school year. We spent the first few days as we normally do eating way to much amazing food and laying around like bums on the beach...lolol
Since we are going home tomorrow, we decided to try something a little different than most people and head to a secluded spot on the island to search for fossilized sharks teeth and fossilized mammal bones. This is not technically a "beach" as it is on the back side of the island and the water is a strip of brackish water between the marshes and the island shore. It is almost entirely covered with oyster shells and other shells and the water is far from pristine and clear lolol
Most people can spend years and years travelling to Jekyll Island and never realize you can hunt for fossils here. The entry to the area is very unassuming and not marked other than the signs in the photo. Nothing announces what is at the end of the trail.
Although the trail is about a mile long and in the sweltering, oppressive heat of south Georgia, it is extremely well maintained, wide, and a very easy hike even for the youngest of your adventuring party! There are views of the adjacent marsh throughout the hike and you get to your destination much quicker it seems than the actual 20 minutes it took for us to make our way to the water.
Once you get down to the water, you immediately realize there is no shade at all anywhere near the water and regretted not bringing our four pole tent to provide a "basecamp" for our fossil hunting endeavors. The water is pleasant even if it appears very murky and ominous. I grew up around marshes like this and although there is the potential for sharks and other predators, you definitely get used to it and don't even give it a second thought. We saw multiple mullet fish jumping out of the water trying to escape whatever was chasing them, more than likely the local dolphins.
Most people walk along the shore and hope to see the teeth and fossils laying on the surface, but to increase your chances of finding these treasures, it is better to take some type of sifter and some type of scooping tool to dig in about knee deep water until you find a clay layer. You then sift the material in the water until you can see the shells and discard them leaving you material that has the potential to have fossils inside.
We made sure we brought plenty of drinks and snacks because once you are out there you don't want to head back to the car a mile away until it is time to leave. Even though the heat is breath-taking in the summer being in the water mitigates some of the discomfort. We ended up finding a couple of partial sharks teeth and several fragments of fossilized bone, which is pictured below. I also found a piece of petrified wood, but it is not in the photo.
After hours of exhausting searching for these natural treasures, we decided to call it quits and spent the trek back to the car debating where we were going to stuff ourselves for dinner! lolol If you are planning any trips to the southeast US near the coast, check with the locals to see if there are any fossil sites nearby......you may be surprised what you can find! Remember that I love you all and each of you deserve to find the treasure for which you seek!
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien
Oh that's pretty cool to find these! Next time bring the tent though! Hot hot hot :) haha
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Beautiful place. The place reminds me of Edward Griffin's book, "Creature from Jekyll Island."
That is the one and only one of which he speaks. Very, very few people realize the crazy policies and practices that were decided for the course of history on the Georgia barrier islands, Cumberland Island included.
Thanks for commenting.
Anyhow, despite those crazy policies made there, they can't steal the natural beauty of Jekyll Island. 😎
Very cool trip out and looking gooooooooooddddddddddddd
Something ominous?
The end of the trail for some creatures.
A little more than 110 years ago On Jekyll Island were a group of Banking moguls scheming their plan to control the world.
The meeting was of utmost secrecy, who knows what poor soul's bones rest in around the Island's waters. ☠️
An intriguing place to take the kids out on. 😉
most people have no clue of the dark, dark history in this region. I grew up (for the most part lolol) just south of here in coastal Georgia and there is so so much bad ju ju in that area and you can see it manifest socially in depression, addiction, poverty, etc, etc.
sorry i went pretty dark responding lolol thank you so much for taking the time to comment
That's okay, dark has been my default for most of my goth years, silversaver888 made me a moderator on #ladiesofhive to put some color and positivity in my life so I am now a work in progress.
aren't we all, though!!! lololol
I can't stand the sun with no shade around, if I was in your place I'd probably hunt for fossils only in water, maybe 1m+ deep. 😁
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i definitely hear ya there lololol This spot is much better in the fall or winter for sure, same for the spots in and around Charleston, SC.
Ah, finding the treasures of natures past times in the present time is a great way to spend your day. And a very nice shirt you're wearing!
Thanks! i thought the shirt was quite fetching myself lolol
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Nice finds! Came from LN.
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Finding a beach that deserted these days is a real miracle. Congratulations on finding true treasures.