Many species of animals lived on this planet long before humans arrived, leaving behind fossils to show us proof of their existence.
As is the case today, when these prehistoric animals roamed the planet, many kept to specific regions of the landmasses that were available to them. As they died off, each species left its own variety of calling cards for us to find proof of their existence later on.
Which Fossils are the Most Commonly Found in Each State in the Southeast?
Going in alphabetical order, let’s review the most common species that left behind remains that were fossilized and found by humans.
Alabama
Primitive Whale bones have been found in Alabama as the calling card of an early species that lived 40 to 34 million years ago. The name Eocene was used for the time period in which the Basilosaurus, the primitive whale, lived. This animal is actually descended from land mammals and it has front flippers an elbow joint and back flippers with hind legs that were smaller in size.
Florida
The fossil that is considered the state representative for Florida is the Agatized Coral. This is another item from the Eocene era and it’s a stone that is commonly found in Florida. Some of the early inhabitants of the area used agatized coral to make stone tools and points nearly 5,000 years ago. There are many areas where this material has been unearthed, giving Floridians the representative on this list.
Georgia
The beaches along the coast of Georgia are known for being a place you can find shark teeth. The official name is Generic Fossil Shark Tooth and they have been found many times over along the coastline. Some of these teeth come from the MegalodonShark and those teeth can reach lengths above seven inches.
Louisiana
The most western of the southeastern states is Louisiana. This state is known for Petrified Palmwood which dates back to the Oligocene era. The fossilization is characterized by the prominent rod-like structures within the regular grain of the wood. This petrified wood belongs in the family of the Palmoxylon and is found in the Catahoula Formation which dates back to a period of nearly 30 million years ago.
Mississippi
Consider it a copy of what’s found in Alabama, but the fossil that represents Mississippi is the same primitive whale, Basilosaurus, but also another. The second species of whale remains found belongs to the Zygorhiza. Both of these primitive whales lived during the Eocene era and are representatives of this state.
North Carolina
Unlike Georgia, the coastline of North Carolina is representative of a specific type of shark teeth as the prehistoric name on this list. Megalodon Teeth are most common along this coastline. Considering the size of the teeth, you can’t imagine humans and these animals living at the same time. These gigantic sharks went extinct nearly 2.6 million years ago during the Miocene era. Divers often find these teeth among the many wrecks that litter the bottom of the treacherous coastlines that make up the state of North Carolina.
South Carolina
South Carolina is home to one of the most unique fossils on this list. The state representative is the Columbian Mammoth which makes us think of large elephants covered in hair roaming the area. This animal lived during the Pleistocene era and roamed the area. South Carolina is the sixth state to name this mammoth as its official animal from the prehistoric era, but that naming was only passed after the state found a way to keep religion out of the conversation.
Virginia
The Bivalve Scallop is the official prehistoric representative of the state of Virginia. This was the first fossil illustrated in a scientific publication from North America in 1687. These animals lived during the Pliocene era and the habitat seems to have been the Chesapeake Bay which is the largest estuary in the U.S. with fossils that date back 4 million years. These scallops are commonly found in the streams and along beaches in Southeastern Virginia.
What Do You Think of These Prehistoric Representatives?
The southeastern part of the United States offers incredible coastlines, mountainous inland areas, and swamplands that have been inhabited by animals and vegetation since the beginning of the planet. While these might not be full-blown diamonds found in the rough, were you surprised by the various state representatives or were they what you expected? Do you live in one of these states where you might see these prehistoric items on display at a nearby museum or nature preserve?
