One massive grin

Most hunters seek a megaladon tooth. These ancient sharks grew as large as a school bus and could eat a 6-foot man in one bite. Luckily, humans never existed with these sea monsters. Some of the largest teeth ever found exceed 7 inches long.

Shark tooth adventures

Holding a fossilized shark tooth that is 15 million years old is amazing, which is why my husband and I travel the East Coast collecting these treasures. We find the pearly whites of species that are extinct and some that still swim our vast oceans today. Shark species we typically find on our collecting trips include the sand tiger, hammerhead, cow shark, great white, gray and the giant megaladon.
Each tooth is unique, but what exactly are you looking for? Typically, shark teeth of live sharks are white, but when searching for fossilized teeth, you are looking for something totally different. The color of the fossils depends on what mineral replaced the tooth during the fossilization process. Fossilized teeth can be gray, cream or red, but are primarily black.

Tooth extraction techniques

Beachcombing can be effective when searching for teeth, especially during low tide. It requires a good pair of water shoes and ambition. When beachcombing, make sure you check gravel piles left on the beach by the tides and pay attention to debris rolling in the surf. Each wave could potentially deposit a large tooth.

Sifting uncovers more material that could house a hidden tooth. Sifters are easy to make. Nail together 2-inch by 4-inch boards in a square, and staple a quarter- or half-inch screen to the bottom. You will need a shovel to scoop the gravel material into the sifter. Wash the material with water and look carefully in your screen. You never know what treasure could be left behind.

You are more likely to find bigger or better preserved teeth by digging deeper. Use screwdrivers or rock hammers to get through compacted material. Digging can be tedious work but well worth it when you excavate a large tooth.

Toothy towns

Shark teeth aren't found on every beach, but we have found them in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Florida and along parts of the Potomac River.

One of our favorite collecting sites is Calvert Cliffs in Maryland, which was once covered by a shallow ancient ocean. The cliffs are eroding into the Chesapeake Bay, supplying the area with numerous species of shark teeth and fossils. The teeth found here seem to be in better condition compared to teeth found in other areas along the East Coast.

Also try Aurora, N.C. Most of the Carolinas have been covered by oceans several times in Earth's history. The town of Aurora holds a fossil festival each spring, and is home to the Aurora Fossil Museum, which houses a variety of ancient fossils from the area including the nearby PCS Phosphate Aurora mine. The museum receives piles of material out of the mine, which is dumped in town, and you are welcome to find your own fossils in the piles, then identify your finds using charts at the museum.

Hunting heritage

Fossil hunting is a sport everyone can enjoy. When I'm taking a break from collecting, I watch young children with their buckets and shovels searching for teeth with their families. I have observed grandfathers passing their passion and techniques on to their grandchildren. Do it for an hour or a day. The more you hunt, the more treasure you'll discover. — Jennifer Bilott