The W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park is a small site in northeast Mississippi where anyone can dig, search, and collect 75 million year old fossils. The park is located on Twenty Mile Creek at the intersection of U.S. Route 45 and road 7450 in Baldwyn, Mississippi.
The W.M. Browning Cretacceous Fossil Park and route 45
The stream at this site passes through rock formations that erode into a fossil bed exposing fossils of sharks, mollusks (oysters, scallops), sponges, turtles, crocodiles, mosasaurs, dinosaurs, and other creatures from the Cretaceous period 75 million years ago. This publication has information about many of the commonly found fossils at the park. The shark teeth are the most popular fossils collected from the site while many of the others are easily overlooked.
Collecting at the site is open to the public, requires no permits, and is relatively easy. It is best to go with water shoes (or waders in colder weather), a shovel, and a sifter (see video). Dig around the large concretions in the stream, sift through the debris, and collect the fossils you find.
The best areas for collecting in the park are directly below the parking lot and the highway bridges.
The fossils are eroded from a five-foot-thick layer that was about 50 above the parking area during Cretaceous times. Fossils from this layer were redeposited into most of the creek beds in Alcorn, Prentiss, and Lee Counties.
At this site, which is State property, these Late Cretaceous fossils can be found in the gravel layers that alternate with sand layers in the creek bed and in sandbars at the water's edge. There are no decent sized fossils in the banks, which are either protected right-of-way or private property or in the giant concretions, which mostly crushed shells.
Best spots for finding fossils are where the flowing water drops the most gravel. Look where water slows down: at the shore line under the sand, downstream from the concretions, downstream from openings between concretions, and in pits left by other fossil hunters. The most efficient way to get fossils is to “loosen” the gravel with a tool. “Digging” breaks the fossils. The loose gravel can be scooped up with bottomless, hole-punched, gallon bleach bottle. Up to 3 quarts of gravel can be scooped up this way. While lifting gravel in a shovel will get you a pint—at most.
Save everything BLACK as it is most likely phosphatized fossil material. Save anything interesting. There are fossils from the Ice Age, too.
There are no rest facilities here. The closest are 3 miles south on Highway 45.
Wow, this sounds like an amazing spot for fossil lovers — especially since it’s public and doesn’t require permits. Shark teeth hunting is always fun, and the fact you can also find turtle, crocodile, and even mosasaur fossils makes it even more exciting.
If you enjoy exploring places like this, you might also like relaxing later with documentaries or adventure content on Best movie collection.
Really interesting read about the W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park — places like this feel like a real-life adventure movie set where history comes alive under your feet. Exploring ancient worlds always reminds me how much people enjoy discovering old stories, whether through fossils or well-made films. I sometimes come across similar discovery-style movie content while browsing sites like classic exploration movies online, which keeps that curiosity alive in a different way. Great breakdown of the location and practical tips for first-time visitors.
I appreciate the dedication behind Maccy, where every detail reflects careful planning, modern design, and performance optimization, ensuring visitors can navigate effortlessly, access resources efficiently, and enjoy a smooth experience that sets the website apart from its competitors.
Exceptional support and clear guidance make navigating this platform effortless, Skytils demonstrates dedication to user engagement by offering helpful resources, tutorials, and updates, ensuring visitors can maximize their experience efficiently while feeling valued and understood at all times.
The fossils are eroded from a five-foot-thick layer that was about 50 above the parking area during Cretaceous times. Fossils from this layer were redeposited into most of the creek beds in Alcorn, Prentiss, and Lee Counties.
ReplyDeleteAt this site, which is State property, these Late Cretaceous fossils can be found in the gravel layers that alternate with sand layers in the creek bed and in sandbars at the water's edge. There are no decent sized fossils in the banks, which are either protected right-of-way or private property or in the giant concretions, which mostly crushed shells.
Best spots for finding fossils are where the flowing water drops the most gravel. Look where water slows down: at the shore line under the sand, downstream from the concretions, downstream from openings between concretions, and in pits left by other fossil hunters. The most efficient way to get fossils is to “loosen” the gravel with a tool. “Digging” breaks the fossils. The loose gravel can be scooped up with bottomless, hole-punched, gallon bleach bottle. Up to 3 quarts of gravel can be scooped up this way. While lifting gravel in a shovel will get you a pint—at most.
Save everything BLACK as it is most likely phosphatized fossil material. Save anything interesting. There are fossils from the Ice Age, too.
There are no rest facilities here. The closest are 3 miles south on Highway 45.
Doug Fleury, Chair
Fossil Park Project Committee
The Photo Album mentioned above no longer links to pictures of this site, as of 7/2/2025
DeleteWow, this sounds like an amazing spot for fossil lovers — especially since it’s public and doesn’t require permits. Shark teeth hunting is always fun, and the fact you can also find turtle, crocodile, and even mosasaur fossils makes it even more exciting.
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy exploring places like this, you might also like relaxing later with documentaries or adventure content on Best movie collection.
Really interesting read about the W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park — places like this feel like a real-life adventure movie set where history comes alive under your feet. Exploring ancient worlds always reminds me how much people enjoy discovering old stories, whether through fossils or well-made films. I sometimes come across similar discovery-style movie content while browsing sites like classic exploration movies online, which keeps that curiosity alive in a different way. Great breakdown of the location and practical tips for first-time visitors.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the dedication behind Maccy, where every detail reflects careful planning, modern design, and performance optimization, ensuring visitors can navigate effortlessly, access resources efficiently, and enjoy a smooth experience that sets the website apart from its competitors.
ReplyDeleteExceptional support and clear guidance make navigating this platform effortless, Skytils demonstrates dedication to user engagement by offering helpful resources, tutorials, and updates, ensuring visitors can maximize their experience efficiently while feeling valued and understood at all times.
ReplyDelete