Top 9 Places in the USA to Find Fossils

Though we are familiar with the definition of fossils, spare a thought to what fossils actually mean to us. Fossils, like pre-historic cave paintings or age-old literature, create a window for men to peak into the past.

They are introduced to the species of animals and plants or even humans for that matter, that walked the earth, hundreds of years before.

Not only this, but fossils actually have the capacity to preserve the genetic code of living organisms for millions of years. We have all seen Jurassic Park right! (Well, who knows, it could actually come true one day, all we need to do is to excavate a dead mosquito stuck in an amber for the past million years.)

Paleontologist, archaeologist or just fossil enthusiasts are always looking out for adventurous expeditions that might lead them to unearthing priceless fossils.

If you go globe trotting on a fossil hunt, there are numerous places around the world to find fossils.

Here is a some list of fossil sites in the USA where one can fuel their enthusiasm for fossils.

It has been a rich source of fossils excavations leading to the 'Wyoming Dinosaur Center' located in Thermopolis, Wyoming. This famous museum is home to 'Jimbo the Supersaurus', a 106-foot long Sauropod found near Douglas.

Other specimens found at the museum are 'Stan the Tyrannosaurus Rex', 'Mary the Albertaceratops', and 'Archaeopteryx' a rare view for fossil enthusiasts.

The park contains the worlds largest deposits of beautiful colored remains of petrified wood. Petrified wood is the fossilized form of terrestrial vegetation. Theses trees are transformed into stones through the process of per-mineralization. Scientist have recovered nearly hundred kinds of fossilized animals and plants in this forest.

The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, contains the largest of mammoth remains in the world. Leading researcher Ross MacPhee rightly says, "the Mammoth Site is not just a window into the past, it's as close to being a true time machine as you'll find, with some of the best ice-age fossils on the planet on permanent display."

Over 600 tracks were then unearthed that were latter matched to be tracks of a three-toed theropods predatory species know to us as the Dilophosaurus. Later discoveries proved that these Jurassic tracks were about 200 million years old.

Unlike other fossil sites, archaeologists recover scattered skeletal remains, the ash bed of Nebraska unearthed a fascinating site where skeletal remains were found attached in their original form even after millions of years. Many paleontologist called this site a true time capsule giving humans a picture of the life form that existed long before we did.

The park is a registered National Natural Landmark in the U.S. containing fossils of Pleistocene vertebrates, over 130 species of bird, and 59 species of mammal, dating from 40,000 to 8,000 years ago.

Other than a hot spot for filmmaking in the northern hemisphere, Ghost Ranch is popular for its famous fossil sites preserving the Triassic Dinosaurs. 'Two Little Dinosaurs', roamed the ranch around 200 million years ago.

One was named 'Coelophysis' by renowned paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, was discovered in 1940s and the other named the Tawa Hallae was discovered in 2009.

The marine fossils found in this region dates back around 400 million years to the Devonian Period. The fossils excavated in the area range from Brachiopods, Bryozoa, Corals, Crinoids, and Trilobites.

A trail of dinosaur fossils were discovered by paleontologist Barnum Brown, the man who discovered 'Tyrannosaurus Rex'. In the year 1902, Brown went on an expedition where he excavated the first ever recorded fossilized remains of Tyrannosaurus Rex.