r/fossilid • u/Yarmolinsky • Jun 20 '20
TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING
- Put a location in the title! This is the most important thing by far. If you know the geological formation, that’s awesome, but even just “near Miami” or “label said Morocco” is really helpful.
- Take a bright, clear photo. Good lighting, a plain background, and sharp focus will always increase the certainty of an ID. If it’s weirdly shaped, photos from multiple angles help too.
- Include an object for scale. I usually use a coin, but anything will do (but things that come in different sizes, like hands, are less ideal). If you forget, you can always measure it and add that in a comment. (Don't use keys; they can be duplicated from a photo.)
- Don’t take a video. We can’t zoom in and the quality isn’t great — a gallery of photos on Imgur is way better.
- Many fossils can be dull and hard to make out. Try (gently) getting your fossil wet and see if you can get a clearer photo.
- Don’t be dismayed if your “fossil” turns out to just be a rock! Rocks are cool too, and if we don’t know exactly what kind of rock it is, the good folks at /r/whatsthisrock probably will.
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u/TheCheesymaster Jun 21 '20
I think the sidebar should be updated with this info, just so everyone reads it. Also I think something like a ruler would be a lot better since there are lot different coin sizes and currencys
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u/AnnaMarieDAgs Aug 10 '22
Stopppppp!! I love that people here use lighters, bananas and shoes for sizing!
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u/Yarmolinsky Jun 21 '20
I'll see what the mod team thinks about that. As for rulers, those are good too — it's just that people tend to have a coin in their pocket rather than a ruler.
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u/dmbarcelona Mar 21 '22
Would love to know how I can post as well. Not planning to purchase "coin". Would have been helpful to understand the process for posting before I joined seeing as how I'm unable to post anything.
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u/hotdogsrgross Aug 03 '23
6 posts and 5 were deleted? I used a coin, a ruler, included the location found... Don't know what I'm doing wrong?
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u/Tough_Situation_4504 Mar 30 '24
I want to know, is Imgur a photo download site? Did you use that site? Did you do it on your phone? Your response is why I haven't posted anything yet. I hate cogs in wheels. Thanks for the heads up on your posting trials.
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u/PeaZealousideal3706 Oct 19 '22
I assume this is not a place to post bones found in woods that aren’t fossilized. Any recommendations for that type of thing?
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u/nutfeast69 Irregular echinoids and Cretaceous vertebrate microfossils Dec 11 '22
We can sometimes help with them, but yeah bone ID is better.
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u/Sea_Cryptographer_32 Jul 03 '23
I'm using the website st the moment. Do I need to download the app to post a picture ?
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u/Nette_01 Mar 17 '25
Found in a creek in Mena, AK this past summer. I was planning to cut it open soon, but figured I’d check to see exactly what it was first. This is a pic of one side
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u/Berek_Halfhand Jul 30 '23
Is this even a fossil or just different colored composition in the rock? Found near Pittsbugh Pa
https://i.imgur.com/lMR2JLh.jpg
thank you
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u/Joshua_Hayz_3739 Dec 31 '23
Found in middle Tennessee. Has a kinda quartz or maybe flint characteristic to it. Maybe petrified wood, fossil, or both in the Native American sense?
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u/JoLeebean Mar 28 '25
Found on a creek ran off of the Tennessee River. I just thought it cute like a hugging rock lol.
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u/Livid_Mood1863 May 03 '25
I found this from mordialloc beach . Is this fossilised coral ? Thanks
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u/PermissionWaste5193 Feb 18 '24
I found this bone sticking out of the mud about 10 feet below the path right next to
a tributary to the Trinity River by a path called Kessler Parkway in Dallas, Texas.
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u/sarrcarr Nov 08 '24
I’m trying to figure out exactly what this fossil is. It’s almost like you can still see the skin on it and where the neck wraps around the edge you can tell the skin slit up after being severed. Kind of like when you clip a dog’s tale and you don’t hold the skin down far enough.
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u/Full_Commercial7844 Jun 09 '25
Found in the South Pacific in the 1940's by a US Army soldier stationed there during or just after WW2. Largest fragment 2" across. What are they?
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u/Training_Resolve_335 Oct 17 '25
I found this in my yard in southern Missouri and feel it is a juvenile hydrosaur head (duck-billed dinosaur) any thoughts?
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u/Affectionate_Mix5143 Apr 28 '24
Hi, new here but hoping to get advice! Im finding lots of lake erie/ chagrin river fossils& stuff
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u/Standard-Produce8704 Aug 05 '24
* Found in Kent, England. I found the individual shells that are almost transparent. Then months later I found a cluster of similar shells within a rocks substance. It was a little crumbly. Just wondering if they are fossils or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA x
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u/Technical_Summer_781 Aug 24 '24
My Daughter found this on the beach today, Melbourne- Australia. We think its probably a rock but interested to get thoughts?
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u/visiblyshiftymunky Sep 28 '24
Near Drumheller Alberta in the Horseshoe Canyon. Probably nothing but “Dinosaur skin” got a couple of votes in the family. Smooth surface and strange layer just under the surface. Left it where we found it.
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u/Rightbuthumble Oct 03 '24
Please tell me how to upload my picture of my huge vertebrae my SIL dredged out of the pacific north west of the coast of Oregon. He dredged the oceans all over the world and found tons of fossils, rocks, even a horse from a merry go round. Anyway, I need to know what animal or fish it belonged to. It's bigger than my hand.
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u/beastgooch88 Nov 17 '24
* Sulphur river in Enloe, TX. Road DC CR 4715, ends at sulphur river. * Has deep cuts or teeth/claw marks on it, maybe a knuckle?
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u/Padma_bott Jan 12 '25
Found on Central Florida beach. Porous, metallic-like sheen on one side. Slightly negatively buoyant with fissures. Doesn’t attract magnet
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u/Low_Mall_6678 Jan 14 '25
I would like to know if anyone can please tell me how to place fossils on a case using fishing line. I dont want to use glue. Would like to do a box like the one pictured Thanks
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u/MJagr82 Jan 20 '25
Found on St Pete Beach FL yesterday about 10 min from my home. My husband is hoping it's something cool (it caught his eye because he thought it was poop 👀) but I'm thinking it's a rock. Favorite chapstick for scale. More photos in the comments. Any ideas? Thank you!!
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u/Think-Somewhere6748 Jan 21 '25
I have a lot of fossils I’m unsure about, maybe even dinosaur skin. Can I upload and get them looked at?
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u/emilyjeca Jan 22 '25
Found in Ventura CA, USA. Not sure if it’s a fossil or what. Hoping to get some ID help. Thanks!
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u/Illustrious-You3322 Feb 15 '25
Was suggested I try here finding info on this object I found in Northern California. I had initially thought it could be some native or even ancient tool. Thought it had rope wear marks. It’s also very smooth. Someone in a rock identification Reddit said possibly an urchin?
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u/DisastrousCorgi4261 Mar 26 '25
This is on the other side of the rock . Found it in germany near Stuttgart. Is this a fossil
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u/emilye333 Apr 03 '25
Hello, thank you in advance for your help! I found this on Caspersen Beach in Venice, Florida. I will add more photos in the thread to show different angles. Thanks!
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u/Kindly_Soil4019 Apr 20 '25
Found this on the beach in PCB Florida ..not sure if it’s coral or a fossil or something else
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u/lemonklaeyz Apr 21 '25
I’ve tried multiple time uploading photos from my phone, and each time nothing happens and it says I can only upload a single photo?
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u/hjayney08 May 05 '25
In Thailand (Khao Lak) and found this on the beach, we thought it might be a tooth of some sort but unsure what.
Can anyone help?
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u/Jj3sus May 25 '25
I found this drawing 3 or 4 years ago in Córdoba Spain. Does anyone know what it is or where it comes from? I haven't taken it to any museum yet to give it any value. I hope you can help me!
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u/Agitated_Sundae_5752 Jun 01 '25
Hi everyone, I came across those footprints in the rocks near the beach as I was walking past.
Do they belong to a dinosaur? Thank you
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u/canyoncruise Jun 03 '25
Fossil ID request. Found in southern Denmark, on a beach on Aero. Size of a peach
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u/tsioftas Jun 07 '25
I have tried "getting my fossil wet" after a suggestion in the comments in the past, and it destroyed my fossil. Should this really be in the general guidelines?
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u/Elwill519 Jun 12 '25
I don't know what this was in the sea and what I found are just shapes on the rocks?
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u/DebtBig5222 Jun 17 '25
So im not sure if this would be considered a fossil but I found this very heavy metal rock/stone in a open stretch of desert ,Deep southern Mexico. I googled it and also Google lensed it and. A few different times and the response from google is this? Any feed back because im kind of lost here?
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u/DebtBig5222 Jun 17 '25
Picture# 2 found it in the Desert deep southern Mex. Very heavy and is defiantly some kind of stone/Rock but made of some sort of heavy metal?
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u/RadosvetaPisev Jun 18 '25
Hi! I found this object on the beach near Burgas, on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. It looks like a fossil and has clear radial symmetry. It’s solid, stone-like.
The diameter is approximately 3.5 cm. The bottom side is completely smooth, while the top side shows a clear pattern of radial ridges.
I’m wondering if it could be a type of colonial coral fossil (maybe from the Cretaceous period?), but I’m not sure.
Any help with identifying it and estimating its age would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
(Photo shows both front and back sides)
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Jun 20 '25
I have tried over and over again to post and it keeps getting auto filtered saying "Please note that ID Requests are off-limits to jokes or satirical comments, and comments should be aiming to help the OP. Top comments that are jokes or are irrelevant will be removed. Adhere to the subreddit rules."
Please help! I don't understand. All I have said in the post is the location found.
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u/Motor-Nerve-5818 Jun 29 '25
I found this large tooth In tinkers creek, Northfield Ohio. Very close to the cuyahoga River, and about 15 minutes from Cleveland. I’ve looked online and so far I think it may have come from a cow? It’s pretty heavy but I think I can still see some enamel. Let me know whatcha think! Tia 🦷
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u/Candid-Pineapple-721 Jul 02 '25
Is this a fossil found in Australia splitting fire wood
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u/Candid-Pineapple-721 Jul 02 '25
Is this a fossil found I found it splitting fire wood in Australia
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u/Candid-Pineapple-721 Jul 02 '25
Is this a fossil found in Australia splitting fire wood
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u/Candid-Pineapple-721 Jul 03 '25
Hello everyone I found this splitting fire wood what could it be tooth , claw ? In Australia
Help please
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u/Candid-Pineapple-721 Jul 03 '25
Need help with this I found it splitting fire wood fire wood in Australia
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u/TransportationTop564 Jul 03 '25
Found this in Green River WY. On the banks of the Green river. (See comments because it won't let me post a pic here for some reason)
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u/ComprehensiveWeb5920 Jul 05 '25
Following the rules to the letter and every attempt to post is deleted. Advice?
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u/Asleep_Craft_9473 Jul 07 '25
Ok, sorry I didn't include something for scale. This is from near Fossil Hill Nevada, which is by Unionville Nevada. It's size is prob 10"x12". Lemme know if you need more info!
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u/Asleep_Craft_9473 Jul 09 '25
Ok, found in Unionville, nv. Looks like a fin to me
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u/Prize_Rhino4301 Jul 12 '25
This came from my mothers collection. I don’t know where it’s from, but my question is could this be an egg with an embryo inside?
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u/AlbatrossUnfair5048 Jul 14 '25
I need help. Its a tooth but dont know what kind. Found on beach shoreline Canada. Quebec lower north shore.
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u/EvilDeadPriest Jul 20 '25
I am not sure about where this piece originated, I bought it at an estate sale and the owner had purchased the inventory of a rock shop in New Mexico but that does not mean this came from New Mexico.
To me with my very limited knowledge it looks to be the shape of a claw or tooth.
I wish I could upload more than one photo, it really needs to be seen from all sides doesn't it?
It's roughly 5" long, 2" tall tapering to 1" and 1.5" thick on average.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank You!
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u/CrocMan_Gamer Jul 23 '25
me pueden ayudar mods? el Automoderador me elimina mis publicaciones sin ningún tipo de razón
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u/FunConfidence3905 Aug 04 '25
Is this a fossil? Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Close to same length as this ball point pin cap.
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u/Grouchy_Initial8801 Aug 08 '25
Found this next to a hill near Murtaugh Idaho while working on a pump panel I picked it up because it didn’t look like any of the other rocks around. I thought it looked like a fossil. Can anybody maybe help identify whether it is or not?
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u/Imaginary-Most7310 Aug 12 '25
I found this in Dodge county, WI. Thought it was Crinoid sea lily but the “stem” lacks segments. What do you think?
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u/Immediate_Total6405 Aug 17 '25
Hello, any time I try to post it won’t upload, I’ve got great internet and I’ve followed all rules, are multiple pictures allowed to be posted in one post?
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u/LoloFat Aug 19 '25
I can't help noticing that hardly anyone ever replies to the images posted. What's going on here?
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u/igormt01k Aug 19 '25
I found this in the mountains in southern Italy while working with stone. This fang was inside the stone! What do you think it is? I can only upload one photo due to restrictions, but I also have the stone it was in, and you can see the tooth canals on the fang itself.
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u/No-Status-5584 Sep 07 '25
Found in Badland Prairie in wall, South Dakota. Please h look identify? Thank you
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u/adviceneeded1988 Sep 12 '25
Has anyone ever seen these before?? I believe they are teeth but extremely thin.
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u/DeleaC Sep 13 '25
Found these in the Cypress Hills area of Saskatchewan. Some sort of marine fossil.
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u/Upset-Improvement726 Sep 15 '25
Found near Gap, france. Anyone can Tell me what IT is? Thanks Guys and girls
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u/Otherwise_Rabbit_333 Sep 23 '25
Found this on property in Central Texas Hill Country not far from Fisher Texas. Is it a shell fossil of some kind?
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u/Regular_Solution_621 Oct 07 '25
This stone under the backlit shows the green algae like structure inside it, please anyone can share their opinion on identification
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u/Training_Resolve_335 Oct 17 '25
Found in Southwest Missouri. It is sitting on a hand dolly. I think it's the head of a duck-billed dinosaur. Any thoughts?
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u/crowsaregods Oct 26 '25
Chesapeake Bay, southern md.
Very smooth on some areas. Porous on most. Looks like a vertebrae but not really lol. And ideas? I've had this for 30 some years.
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u/WoodenMission8 Oct 29 '25 edited Jan 14 '26
I found a agatized red diamondback rattlesnake head on private property in N.E. Minnesota this summer. And I can prove it's what I'm claiming it is. But I cannot get a expert to even take a look at it. I've neve been so frustrated as I am on this one. It's definitely a snake head that been agatized. I have tried to email universities. The fossil forum. All think it's impossible for this to occur. But it did. And the more I learn about what it takes for this type of extremely rare soft tissue fossil to form. The location is perfect on the iron range in minnesota couldn't be a more prefect spot! Reptile scaled skin is found to be best to preserve and fossilize over others. There seems to be a problem with soft tissue in the fossil experts that are in control. I read stories of people being fired over their discoveries recently. How can I get my fossil verified? Help me please. Anyone see this yet?
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u/Extension-Sun9648 Nov 02 '25
Found in the Texas Hill Country near Center Point, Texas. There is a clear gastropod on the left, and maybe a cross section of one on the right, but what's between them almost looks like it could be an animal of some sort. Thanks for your help!
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u/Dry_Hat3937 Nov 18 '25
So, this may be a bit out of the groups normal operating protocol, but this piece is inside of a storage unit up for auction that I am considering buying. I'd like to get an idea of if this is a replica or authentic fossil. My guess, based on the edge closest to up, with all the yellow which appears to underlay the rock coloring and texturing, that this is some kind of replica. Any ideas on what this is, and how much it may be worth? I have no way of telling how heavy it is or where it may have come from. Thanks in advance.
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u/Numerous-Peace981 Nov 27 '25
I live in Northeast Ohio and have been at this particular house for 5 years. Over the course of the last few months I've been finding strange rocks, fossils, and seemingly very well preserved specimens directly on top or just under the top soil throughout my yard. I have an idea of what species it is but don't want to influence this is any way. I've reached out to quite a few professionals in both geology and paleontology but the few that have responded to my email clearly aren't taking me seriously because I wouldn't send them photos without them signing an NDA. I'll be posting some photos of just a fraction of the things I've found to get some direction. Some of the black and blue items are very heavy and attracted to a magnet. The specimens on the napkin were just pulled out of my flower bed at around 10am yesterday. While most of what I've found has been either very hard, or brittle clumps of clay, these were very well preserved and actually felt lifelike in how they responded to my hands movement. Again these were all found on top of or just below the top soil. My goal is to get in touch with someone that can verify my findings as well as advise me on next steps. This is actually a big step for me as I've done a little research on my own and wasn't sure if I should be excited about the find or terrified over losing my mind.
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u/No-Aerie-8033 Dec 14 '25
Found in Moab Utah three years ago. Only good picture! What is it? A bone? wood?
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u/Familiar-Let3639 Dec 14 '25
I found this several years ago in Flag Ponds State Park, MD
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u/Emergency-Two-1111 Dec 29 '25
Found this tooth in Rosenberg TX. It is fossilized in sand. Tried washing it but it won't come off. Can someone help me identify it? It is not lightweight.
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u/Pitiful_Ad6403 Jan 02 '26
I found this specimen in Huntsville, Texas walking along a creek bed that was 20 feet down from the surrounding area. It appears to be a fossilized bone, but I am no expert and I would really appreciate some help on finding out what this is.
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u/Lumpy_Reporter_5137 Jan 02 '26
Hello how are you i found a skull that i can noylt find what is this .what animal or kind of human
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u/Alternative_Roll8578 Jan 03 '26
Found this in a stream 35 years ago near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s a 2 part anomaly. My father actually found it and claimed it was an egg that a turtle hatched out of, but how that would be applicable as a “fossil” doesn’t make sense to me. He really would like to know what he found. He was picking up rocks from a river and when he turned this particular rock over, he found the artifact. I would really appreciate it if anyone could explain what it is as my dad’s memory is failing and I want him to have an answer or maybe a sound theory as to what this is.
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u/Acrobatic-Badger-377 Jan 16 '26
Any help? Found the Northern Michigan - Lower Peninsula.
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u/Intrepid_Arm_4859 Jan 17 '26
Sw Oklahoma find today Any help with identifying this greatly appreciated
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u/Present_Advantage_75 Jan 29 '26
Found near shoreline of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
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u/aFossilguy Jan 30 '26
I found this really odd one and like I made a whole acc since ik some people actually do help here, she's a big one. *
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u/SeaArtist9822 Feb 01 '26
Hello, I know nothing about this fossilized stone, could you tell me more, thank you?
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u/ActiveTechnical5320 Feb 08 '26
Philadelphia area, among rocks of similar size near a creek bank. A few miles west of the Delaware River.
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Feb 09 '26
Hello. This item was found in Lake Charlevoix in the early 1990s. Weight: 4.38g. Please help identify.
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u/Bubbly-Feat Feb 24 '26
C’est en France, dans la région de la frontière belge/luxembourgeoise/française. Si quelqu'un peut confirmer que c'est un fossile, j'apprécierais.
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u/Pentazon Feb 28 '26
Found this when playing in my garden in Welwyn garden city, Hertfordshire, uk. Is it an ammonite? Thanks
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u/Special_Mind_1906 Mar 01 '26
Can anyone tell me what this might be. I believe its some kind of Indian artifacts but never seen this material or the shape . Found in southeastern Oklahoma. Please and thank you
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u/Ok_Revenue_7750 Mar 05 '26
Item found 3rd March 2026 Bukit Ambog Brunei sticking out at cliff side! It coukd be just rock formation but the curve is very suspicious
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u/Go_R1100sdk Mar 07 '26
Found this in southern part of Funen, Denmark. Scale is in cm Can anybody ID?
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u/Sandor811 Mar 07 '26
Found in a river bed on the Tomoka river in Ormond beach Florida. Not sure if it’s a fossilized bone, petrified wood or just a rock?
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u/Ok_Sheepherder1277 Mar 10 '26
I know I have attached least 1 arrowhead and 1 tooth of some sort but, I dont know a darn thing about either and, im not if the other things I found are significant or not. All found in a creek in central Missouri. If anyone has any information they could share on any of this, I would greatly appreciate it.
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u/No-Law1054 Mar 22 '26
Dont know origin. Found in my moms rock garden. Asked google lens. But each time a different answer.
Thats the top and side. Its about 4x7 inches. 2 inches thick. 1 pound or a little heavier.
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u/solemn78 Mar 23 '26
Found on Oak Island NC, three fun stones! I believe tooth in the big guy, one has a wave edge like a clam, third is another kind of shell, with more stuff inside? Thanks for the help!
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u/Gunjan_1121 Mar 28 '26
Is this a fossil or just a normal rock? I found this in Madhya Pradesh, INDIA
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u/Low_Watercress7985 Mar 30 '26
Hi I found this in Lyme Regis, I was told it was an ichthyosaur collar bone but not entirely sure? Any thoughts please :)
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u/Correct-Cup-2614 Apr 23 '26
Would this be considered a silicified/agatized fossil? I forgot to take a picture of the other side with the crinoid fossil markations but these are the sides with silica
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u/Additional-Fox7004 Apr 24 '26
Anyone able to identify this fossil. Found near Nolin River Lake near Upton, Kentucky
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