Schooled by my Star Pupil

My son and I visited an old faithful fossil hunting spot in Summerville SC. Like most spots it used to be better than it is now but still we went because we thought we could find some nice smaller teeth from the Ashley formation which is exposed all over the place there.

The best method I have for hunting the spot is to use a clear bottom bucket to see through the water ripples to the bottom. My son soon tired of the tediousness of it all and walked on ahead scanning the banks while I searched the bottom. I kept offering him to use the bucket but he kept turning me down. He didn't need it! He was finding better stuff than me without it, while suffering none of the back pain!

After a while the weezling got pretty far ahead of me. I hadn't seen him in a few minutes and he suddenly came around the corner in front of me. Excitedly he says, "Dad, I found a really nice one. You need to bring the camera." I hurriedly followed him asking questions the whole way.

"Is it nice?"

"Oh yah, its nice."

"Better than the last one?"

"I think so, but I don't know if the tip is there. If it is, its the best one I've ever found!"

I was pretty excited at this point because he has found some pretty nice stuff over the years. When we arrived, I saw a big, gorgeous tooth laying nearly completely exposed. Only the tip was under the sand. I flipped on the video camera to record the big moment and it was well worth the wait. It was whole! 2 1/4 inches of oligocene Angustidens beauty. Finding teeth like this one is why we do this hobby.

He was so proud of that tooth, and I was so happy to share the moment of the unveiling. What great fortune! It's the best tooth I've seen from this particular location in several years!