Before anyone could photograph or look at, or even put Megalodon teeth on a shelf it was performing something much less tranquil. It was one of the largest predatory sharks to have ever been found in our oceans. The tooth was ripped off. For most objects, that is the final chapter. It could be also the beginning of a story for a fossil.
The fossils available from Fossil Driven are part of the geological processes that are not measured in years or centuries, but in millions of years. This trip can alter the way you see fossils. You’re no longer simply looking at a fascinating object. You’re seeing physical evidence from a world that disappeared long ago.
Image credit: fossildriven.com
The First Station: An Ancient Ocean
Consider the Megalodon teeth recovered from West Java, Indonesia. About 20 million years ago, the vast areas of land that we have today were warm marine habitats. Megalodon sharks lived in those waters, along with a myriad of other types of marine life.
Megalodon Like sharks of in the present, constantly produces teeth and then loses them. Some of the teeth became part of marine sediments. If the conditions are favorable burial may protect them for long enough to allow fossilization.
Then geology came in.
The next chapter unfolded incredibly slow. Sediments began to accumulate. Minerals acted in conjunction and buried material. Geological forces altered landscapes. submerged environments became land. The processes behind the distinct colors in fossil teeth is what customers are able to see when they browse Megalodon teeth on auction.
Indonesian specimens discovered in the West Java’s Miocene Bentang Formation typically tan, golden, brown and red, as well as blue or black. Some exhibit various shades on one tooth. The surrounding mineral environment contributes to the appearance a specimen develops during its long burial. It is therefore not possible to produce in mass through nature. Each fossil has been through the geological past.
Discovery Starts a New Chapter
A fossil that has been hidden for millions years is eventually found. The identification and documentation become crucial.
When collectors browse authentic megalodon teeth for sale, they aren’t only evaluating appearance. The information about location and geological age, preservation, repairs, and restoration will help them understand what they’re really looking at.
Natural wear does not erase a fossil’s story. The history of the fossil can be reflected in worn edges or a damaged root, or a serrated surface. Most important is to depict the specimen with accuracy.
Fossil Driven has more than 13 years of expertise in fossil identification and works with established suppliers as well as fossil hunters. Specimens are reviewed and described using relevant information when possible.
Eventually the Fossil is found by someone’s hands.
There are a variety of reasons individuals purchase fossils. Some make carefully classified collections. Certain people prefer one striking piece to spark conversation. Children who are fascinated by prehistoric animals could get a initial fossil which sparks an ongoing interest in paleontology.
Megalodons are just one of the many entrances that lead to this world. Dinosaur tooth, mosasaur, trilobites and ammonites, as well as mammoth, ammonite and amber pieces of material, preserve diverse chapters in the history of Earth.
The greatest thing is knowing that it’s real
Replicas can recreate the shape and size of teeth that was found in prehistory. It is not able to recreate the history of the tooth. The Megalodon teeth were discovered in animals from the past that lived in completely different environments than we do now. They survived geological changes as well as being buried for millions of years and eventually discovered.
That is what makes authenticity so important. You are holding a specimen that has created a virtually unimaginable trip through time. The display case is the latest stop on its journey.
