Quaternary · 2.58 Ma – present
Quaternary fossil sites
The current period — defined by repeated ice ages, the rise of modern human evolution, and the late Pleistocene megafauna extinctions. Quaternary fossil sites include cave deposits, tar pits, river gravels, and permafrost-preserved Ice Age remains.
Fossils typical of this period: mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, sabre-toothed cats, dire wolves, La Brea biota, cave-bear remains.
39 fossil sites
Atapuerca Archaeological Site Fossil Guide
Castile and León, Spain
Hominin remains, Homo antecessor, Cave bears, Lithic tools
Beachy Head Fossil Hunting Guide
England, United Kingdom
Echinoids (sea urchins), Flint sponges, Bivalves, Brachiopods
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Fossil Hunting Guide
Kentucky, United States
American mastodon (Mammut americanum), Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), Jefferson's ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii), Ancient bison (Bison antiquus)
Capitola, CA Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Centerville Beach Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
Patinopecten sp. (Giant Pacific Scallop), Natica clausa (Moon Snail), Clinocardium meekianum (Cockle), Nucella canaliculata (Channeled Dogwinkle)
Edisto Beach State Park Fossil Hunting Guide
South Carolina, United States
Shark Teeth, Megalodon, Pleistocene mammal bones, Whale Bone
Elk Grove Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Elk Head Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
Trace Fossils
Find Diverse Marine Fossils in Yuha Basin Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
Resource 1
Find Fossils at Coal Point, Isla Vista Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Find Fossils at Portola Hills, Lake Forest Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Find Fossils at Surfer's Knoll Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Find Marine Fauna Fossils near Coalinga, CA Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Fort Clinch State Park Fossil Hunting Guide
Florida, United States
Shark Teeth, Mollusks
Half Moon Bay Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Honeycomb Hill Caves Fossil Hunting Guide
West Coast, New Zealand
Moa (Pachyornis, Dinornis, Megalapteryx), Haast's eagle (Hieraaetus moorei), Finsch's duck (Chenonetta finschi), New Zealand owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles novaezealandiae)
La Brea Tar Pits Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
Dire Wolf, Saber-toothed Cat, Columbian Mammoth, Ground Sloth
Lake Clifton Thrombolites Yalgorup National Park Fossil Hunting Guide
Australia
Thrombolites
Liselund Park Mons Klint Beach Access Fossil Hunting Guide
4791 Borre
Belemnites, Sea urchin, Brachiopod, Bryozoan
Mazourka Canyon Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Mons Klint Beach Fossil Hunting Guide
Denmark
Møns Klint, Belemnites, Sea urchin, Brachiopods
Moonstone Beach Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Mountain View Park Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Mungo National Park Fossil Hunting Guide
Australia
Mungo Lady, Mungo Man, Zygomaturus trilobus, Genyornis newtoni
Naracoorte Caves Fossil Hunting Guide
South Australia, Australia
Diprotodon, Thylacoleo carnifex, Procoptodon, Megalania
Ocotillo, CA Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Pilbara Stromatolites Fossil Hunting Guide
Western Australia, Australia
Stromatolites
Reighton Sands Yorkshire Fossil Hunting Guide
near Reighton
Erratic boulders, Kimmeridge Clay, Ammonites, Belemnites
Runswick Bay Yorkshire Fossil Hunting Guide
United Kingdom
Ammonites, Jet, Bivalves, Belemnite guards
Scotia Bluffs Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
Mollusks
Speeton Cliffs Yorkshire Fossil Hunting Guide
United Kingdom
Ammonites, Belemnites, The Speeton Shrimp, Echinoids
Store Klint Mons Klint Tallest Cliffs Fossils Fossil Hunting Guide
Denmark
Belemnites, Sea urchin, Brachiopods, Bryozoan
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs Fossil Hunting Guide
South Dakota, United States
Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), Short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), Camel
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Fossil Hunting Guide
Nevada, United States
Mammoth, Ground Sloth
Waco Mammoth National Monument Fossil Hunting Guide
Texas, United States
Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), American camel (Camelops), Western horse (Equus), Saber-toothed cat (?)
Weathered Gastropod Found by Surfer's Knoll Fossil Hunting Guide
California, United States
N/A
Wellington Caves Fossil Hunting Guide
Wellington
Diprotodon, Thylacoleo carnifex, Procoptodon, Diprotodon optatum
West Runton Fossil Hunting Guide
West Runton
Mammal remains, Freshwater shells, Plant material, Echinoids and sponges
White Sands National Park Fossil Hunting Guide
New Mexico, United States
Human footprints, Smaller vertebrate tracks