Florida was once part of a prehistoric, warm, shallow sea filled with sharks. Fast forward to today, and their prehistoric teeth can be found along Venice’s beaches, leading the town to herald itself the “Sharks Tooth Capital of the World.” Every day of the year, fossil enthusiasts and casual visitors can comb Venice’s beaches for a handful of these free souvenirs, but for a real treat, on April 11-12, head to the annual Sharks Tooth Festival, which includes family-friendly activities like food trucks, live music, fossil specimens for purchase and hands-on fossil digs for the kids.
Uncovered by Time and Falling Seas
The fossil record of shark teeth in Florida dates back to the late Miocene and early Pliocene eras, somewhere between 2 million to 23 million years ago. During that time, sea levels were higher, and ancient sharks thrived in Gulf waters. As the sea levels fell and land emerged, shark teeth remained in sedimentary layers, later exposed by erosion.
Local Finds…