The Epic Park In New Jersey Where You Can Take Home 100-Million-Year-Old Fossils For Free
By Kristen|Published January 09, 2018
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Kristen
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Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
New Jersey has quite a rich history when it comes to fossils. The Hadrosaurus was discovered here back in 1858 and remains one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever found. But you probably already knew that. What you may not know is that the Garden State is home to one of the largest and best areas in the country for late Cretaceous period fossils.
The Cretaceous period spans 79 million years between the end of the Jurassic Period 145 million years ago to the beginning of the Paleogene Period 66 million years ago.
It is the last period of the Mesozoic Era. The Cretaceous was a period with a relatively warm climate, resulting in high eustatic sea levels that created numerous shallow inland seas. These oceans and seas were populated with now-extinct marine reptiles, ammonites and rudists. One such shallow sea could be found where modern day Marlboro, New Jersey now lies.
In Marlboro, you'll find the picturesque Big Brook Park.
Part of the Monmouth County Parks System, it is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.. The park offers young wetlands, rolling fields, and hiking trails. However, the most popular attraction is the Big Brook (hence the name).
The brook (which also runs down into Colts Neck and the Big Brook Preserve) cuts through sediments that were deposited during the Late Cretaceous Period.
All along the brook, you'll find a wide range of fossils. If you're patient and have the proper tools (a screening box), you'll likely find a few to take home. If you don't have a screening box, I've heard that pasta strainers can work in a pinch. You'll need to sift through the sediment at the bottom of the brook, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get wet. A visit here is a fun family activity that can result in the discovery of some terrific treasures.
Shark teeth are most common. And these aren't the teeth of sharks you'll find today, they're the teeth of the extinct Mackerel, Crow, Angel and Goblin sharks. You may also find shark vertebrae. There are bony fish and ray fossils, along with an abundance of Belemnite fossils. The Belemnite is an extinct invertebrate and cephalopod, similar to a squid. If you're lucky, you'll come across the fossils of dinosaurs and other land animals whose remains drifted out to sea, but this is very rare. Aim to find shark teeth and you'll probably leave happy. By law, you're allowed to bring up to 5 fossils home.
For a peek at the fossil discovery process, check out the video below by YouTube user rocky315w:
Were you familiar with this treasure trove of Cretaceous fossils in New Jersey? Have you been? What did you find? If you’d like to visit, you can do so by putting 521 Route 520 (Marlboro), into your GPS. Be prepared for a short hike along the Henry Hudson Trail. If you’d like to learn more about the Hadrosaurus and the town in which it was discovered, click here.
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