Q&A for How to Dig for Fossils

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Who do I call if I find a major fossil?

Community Answer

Contact your local natural history museum or the archaeology department of a college/university in your area.

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Question

How do you find fossils in the playground?

JLuckenbill

Community Answer

While it's unlikely that you'll just stumble on a fossil on the playground, it is possible. The key is to keep your eyes open! Also, digging may help, if your school allows it. You may even find a fossil in the rocks if your playground has small pebbles under it's playground equipment for cushioning falls.

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Question

What regions of the United States are best for finding dinosaur fossils?

JLuckenbill

Community Answer

Deserts are good areas for finding dinosaur fossils, mostly because the soil typically isn't covered by plant life. The western part of the United States is particularly good for finding dinosaurs.

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Question

Do I have to give up rare finds when digging for fossils?

Community Answer

Donating fossils is the best way you can repay your local museum for their help in identifying your fossils. Especially if you have vertebrate finds (according to the Smithsonian Institute, all vertebrate finds must be yielded back to the museum). Keeping them to yourself isn't that helpful to learning more as a whole either, so it's always a good idea to share rare fossil finds.

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Question

Where do I sell fossils?

ILikeSlugs

Community Answer

You can sell your fossils on Etsy. I've bought woolly mammoth hair and a trilobite fossil both from Etsy. You might also try eBay or other online trade sites. However, you must have the legal authority for obtaining the fossils in the first place before you can sell them, so be sure the collecting of them is legal where you are.

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