Sussex County Fossil Hunting

by Joel Wilson

Early fall is a great time to explore Sussex County's landscape in search of ancient treasures.  No, I'm not talking about gold or silver or the riches of long forgotten civilizations, but rather the many fossils that are waiting to be discovered throughout the county.   Our county is indeed a unique place where millions of years of history may be revealed with the simple turning of a stone.

Fossils are the remains of plant and animal life that died long ago and were permanently preserved in one way or another.  Fossils containing the parts of animals, such as bones or teeth, are known as body fossils while the footprints or trails of animals are known as trace fossils.   any fossils common to our area were created when plants and animals died and were preserved in the  mud that their bodies ended up in.  Over millions of years this mud solidified into sedimentary (layered) rock, the place where these creatures may be discovered today. 

New Jersey overall is a fossil hunting treasure trove.   The first dinosaur skeleton ever found was discovered in Haddonfield, New Jersey in 1838.  Insects preserved in amber taken from a central Jersey site are among the oldest specimens found in the world, and other New Jersey finds include the oldest mushroom, flower, ants, and North American bird feather. 

While fossils are found extensively in New Jersey, we possess a notably abundant supply within the confines of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.  One of the best places to look in this area is on the shoreline and shallows of the Delaware River near the campground portion of Worthington State Forest, just north of the Gap itself.  Look all you want in these areas -- you will be rewarded -- however keep in mind that any artifacts contained on federal lands may not be removed for any reason.   Other good places to look along the river are any places where sedimentary stone is exposed and subject to the forces of erosion.

September is a great time to look, given the usually beautiful weather and the low water levels common in the river.  If the outdoors are not for you but you are interested in fossils visit the Franklin Mineral Museum in Franklin.   The folks there have a nice collection including  dinosaur footprints, fish fossils, and much, much more.   Either way you choose to enjoy fossils you will be rewarded with a glimpse of life that existed millions of years ago, quite an amazing thought to ponder.

Link

Welcome to the Fossils of New Jersey