Even without digging or real searching, fossils were right there on the ground, before your eyes. Fossils were everywhere, just waiting to be picked up by visitors. The moment you start your steps to the hilly part of the park, you immediately see seashells etched on big boulders of rock.
The fossils, according to geologists, can be dated back to the late Ordovician Period, that’s about four hundred million (~445 million) years ago when primitive fish species dominated the seas. During that time, Ohio was still covered with warm, shallow sea similar to Bahamas. Over time, the sea deepened and covered parts of Ohio. However, nearing the end of the Ordovician period, the sea level retreated caused by continental glaciation. The retreat has exposed the rocks underneath and the remains of the multitude of sea lifeforms. The limestone in the park was the product of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of animals that used to inhabit the sea that covered the region.
Here are some tips when planning to visit the park:
- There is an area at the bottom of the hill where signs are placed, explaining the history and the types of fossils that you’d find at the park. Do this first: read the signs before you start your climb and fossil hunting.
- Bring a small shovel or some digging tools if you want to experience a real archaeological digging yourself. Bring a bag too so you could take home your finds!
- Some areas are steep, so wear a comfortable and appropriate footwear.
- For those with kids, bring a first-aid kit with antiseptic cleanser and band aids. You’ll never know what happens when kids get too much excited and run through the rocky hill — returning to you with a scratch or a cut.
- It can get very hot during mid afternoons. Since it is an open field without any shade that you can run to, bring bottles of water.