An Ancient Seafloor in McNairy County
Late in the age of dinosaurs, a shallow sea covered this part of Tennessee. The creek beds at Coon Creek cut through those old seafloor sediments, and they are packed with remarkably well-preserved fossils: shells, snails, crabs and the remains of animals that swam in that sea more than 70 million years ago.
Fossils You Can Hold
Coon Creek fossils are famous for how complete they are. Many shells come out of the ground still holding their original shell material rather than as stone casts, which is why scientists study them and why kids remember the day they found one. The site is one of the most important Cretaceous fossil deposits in North America.
What a Dig Day Looks Like
Public Community Days run about three hours. A short talk explains why ocean fossils turn up in West Tennessee, then everyone heads down to the creek for roughly an hour and a half of digging, followed by learning how to clean and preserve what you found.
It is outdoors with a fair bit of walking, so wear clothes and shoes you don't mind getting muddy and wet.
