{"id":304386,"date":"2024-02-06T11:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/?post_type=parents&p=304386"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:07:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T17:07:27","slug":"fossil-hunting-guide","status":"publish","type":"parents","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/ie\/parents\/fossil-hunting-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to go on a fossil hunt with kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Searching locally for fossils and artefacts with kids can be an epic journey \u2013 and inspire curiosity and exploration<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know to get started on a junior fossil hunting expedition, plus five extra activities for kids who love ancient life\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is <\/em>a fossil?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take heart, parents: you don\u2019t need to know it all before you begin. Still, a bit of knowledge will set you off on the right track \u2013 and make you seem like a genius to your children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically, a fossil is the remnant of ancient life. \u201cThey\u2019re the remains of an extinct plant or animals or some trace of their behaviour, like a footprint or fossilised poop,\u201d explains palaeontologist Scott Sampson, director of the California Academy of Sciences and author of the Nat Geo Kids book You Can Be a Palaeontologist!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formula for creating a fossil goes something like this: a living thing dies, the soft parts decay, sedimentary rock builds up on top of what\u2019s left, and water seeps into the bones and teeth to turn it to stone. Sometimes, water dissolves the bone or shell and leaves an imprint on the rock.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"fossil<\/a>
Left – Actual remains of a creature, like this bat petrified in limestone displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, are called a body fossil
Right – Imprints of once-living things, like this leaf, are called trace fossils<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While dinosaurs grab fossil glory, most fossils are actually something else, like trilobites from the sea and ancient insects sealed in amber. All fossils build an important bridge from past to present. \u201cAny fossil we find helps remind us that we\u2019re a piece of that narrative,\u201d Sampson says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to start fossil hunting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dedicated gear is not only fuel for excitement, but it also adds seriousness to the expedition. Pack a backpack with a shovel, small hammer of chisel, and brushes to excavate your finds (the closest equivalents you can scrounge up around the house will work too!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring a notebook, pencils, and a camera for documentation. Don\u2019t forget sunscreen, snacks, a hat, and water since many fossil-friendly spots don\u2019t offer much shade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best fossil spots vary by be region, so it helps to do a bit of research ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have sedimentary rocks (that is, rocks that were formed by layers of sediment building up over time, like sandstone, chalk and limestone), and they\u2019ve got to be exposed,\u201d Sampson says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, these are places where an ancient river flooded and then retreated into its channel, leaving behind layers of shale, sandstone or limestone and with it, fossils. To find nearby fossil-friendly spots, check out a geological survey or a paleogeographic map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for places where rocks from long ago might be at the surface. Dirt-filled forests or newly landscaped locations will make your search more challenging. Deserts, quarries, or spaces where the earth has been split \u2013 like where roads have been cut into mountains or in cliffs on beaches or along rivers \u2013 are great spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your searches safe and stay away from private property or public spaces where digging would be problematic, like sports fields. Check out this guide for UK top spots!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the hunt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Children have a natural advantage when it comes to amateur fossil hunting: they\u2019re closer to the ground, have better eyesight, and are curious about their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKids are just natural scientists,\u201d says Ilana April, senior manager of early childhood education at the American Museum of Natural History. \u201cThey\u2019re born with a curiosity about the world around them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the chance of a child stumbling across a gigantic dinosaur skull is very, very small. But they might stumble on a footprint<\/a>, ammonite or other more common fossil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to search for<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard for even experts to describe exactly what to look for, because so many different types of fossils exist. That\u2019s why April suggests that kids start their search simply by looking slowly and carefully along the ground. \u201cThe most important tool scientists have might be their eyes,\u201d April says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, stay on the lookout for interesting designs, patterns and textures. \u201cI look for symmetry,\u201d says Paul Mayer, palaeontologist and collections manager at Chicago\u2019s Field Museum. \u201cYou want to train your eye to look for nice lines.\u201d (Make our make-a-magnifier craft <\/a>to help you out!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, many shell fossils will have bilateral symmetry, so the left will be a mirror image of the right. Other times, texture will be the key.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"fossil<\/a>
Left – When searching for fossils, kids should look for patterns and textures in rocks, like the ones from this shell
Right – A gingko leaf fossil in North Dakota<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThe fossil portion of a rock might be smooth or a different colour than the rest,\u201d Mayer says. \u201cIt might really stand out, like a chocolate chip in cookie dough. Sometimes you\u2019ll find it separate from a rock, but oftentimes you\u2019ll find a fossil in the rock itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your kids spots something promising, have them use the shovel to dig out any half-buried rocks. The hammer and chisel will break away portions of rock that might expose a fossil, and the brush will wipe away any debris or dust.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Fossil<\/a>
A palaeontologist uses a chisel and brush to excavate a fossil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After their discovery, kids should document the location and date of the find \u2013 and a description of the rock around it. \u201cSomeone else could figure out what the species or fossil is, but they\u2019ll never know where you found it,\u201d Mayer says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fossil or not?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After that, kids can try to figure out if their discovery is truly a fossil \u2013 and, if so, what exactly it is. If they think it\u2019s a dinosaur bone, have a lick. Bones will stick to their tongue, while rock won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For deeper research, kids can also try traditional sources (like books from Nat Geo Kids<\/a>) or \u2013 under your supervision \u2013 fossil-hunting communities like the My Fossil eMuseum.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important lesson of fossil hunting is to keep at it. \u201cYou never know what you\u2019re going to find,\u201d Mayer says. \u201cThe more rocks you look at and pick up, the better your chances are of finding a fossil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going beyond fossil hunting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Discovering the world of dinosaurs and ancient living things isn\u2019t just about digging. Here are five other activities to connect with the past\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Track living dinosaurs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blow your kids\u2019 minds by tossing out this fact: dinosaurs exist today as birds. Take your kids bird-watching (or keep an eye on the birds from your window) and see if they can find similarities between the dinosaurs in their books and the ones in the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search for ancient plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCertain species of plants that grow today were also around during the Ice Age and eaten by giant sloths and mammoths,\u201d Olson says. Look for trees like ginkgo, palms, magnolias, avocados, and even ferns, then imagine what creatures might have been chowing down on them millions of years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find fossils of the future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insects still get stuck in tree sap, under a rock, or inside tar (even if it\u2019s just on your driveway). Have kids search the fossils-in-the-making to compare with ancient versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a fossil record<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your kid\u2019s find is in a protected space \u2013 or you just don\u2019t want a bunch of rocks cluttering up the house \u2013 create a memento with an old-school rubbing technique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hold paper against the unique portion of the rock and rub against the section with a crayon, marking what is raised. (Even if they don\u2019t find a fossil, doing this activity with things like tree bark, leaves, or textured stone is still a great way to capture an adventure.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trace nature’s patterns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Palaeontologists use fossil finds to understand the behaviour of ancient living things. Have kids use their own investigative skills \u2013 and a bit of creativity \u2013 to follow clues that today\u2019s creatures might leave behind. For example, broken acorns could mean a nearby squirrel\u2019s nest \u2013 or nearby poop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy fossil hunting! Next, check out these top ways to bring out your kids’ inner explorer<\/a>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by Lindsay N. Smith. Image credits: beach hunting \u00a9 Martin Bowra \/ Dreamstime; bat fossil \u00a9 Roberto Machado Noa \/ Lightrocket via Getty; Trace fossils \u00a9 Ira Block \/ National Geographic Image Collection. Shell \u00a9 Chris Griffiths \/ Getty Images; leaf \u00a9 Phil Degginger \/ Alamy. Palaeontologist \u00a9 Cory Richards \/ National Geographic Image Collection.<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Searching locally for fossils and artefacts with kids can be an epic journey \u2013 and inspire curiosity and exploration. Here\u2019s what you need to know to get started on a junior fossil hunting expedition, plus five extra activities for kids who love ancient life\u2026 What exactly is a fossil? Take heart, parents: you don\u2019t need … Continue reading How to go on a fossil hunt with kids<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":304398,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":["post-304386","parents","type-parents","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","countries-australia","countries-ireland","countries-new-zealand","countries-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFossil hunting with kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get your kids outside for some dino fun with this fossil hunting guide! 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