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Many people have found fossils while exploring the woods and fields of Indiana. It's not uncommon for people to bring their discoveries to our scientists at The Children's Museum. Sadly, none of them are dinosaur fossils—there were no dinosaurs in Indiana. Even so, there have been some extraordinary discoveries right here in the Hoosier heartland.
In this short video, Curator of Natural Science William Ripley shares some of the fossils found in Indiana.
More facts about Indiana fossils:
Crinoid and Blastoid
Even though these fossils look like plants, they’re actually animals, and lived here in Indiana millions of years BEFORE the dinosaurs!
Fern Nodule
These little nodules contain fossils of plants and animals that lived in the swamps that covered Indiana at one time, over 300 million years ago.
Mastodon jaw and Mammoth tooth
Both of these early relatives of the elephant lived in the area that was to eventually become Indiana.
Pyrite
Even though it looks like gold, you can’t really buy anything with this.
Sulfur
Sometimes when water smells like rotten eggs, this element is the cause.
Quartz
This diamond look alike may be found here in Indiana…as are REAL diamonds sometimes.
Fluorite
This mineral can be found in thousands of places across the world, even here in Indiana
Dolomite
This pink mineral is often found with limestone, both of which can be found in abundance in Indiana.
Red Fox
This carnivore can call most areas in the world home, including Indiana!
Raccoon
Because they sometimes will raid your garbage can, the “robber masks” on their faces are sometimes deserved.
Squirrel
One can find these members of the rodent family in the woods of Indiana, or in the mid-city parks of Indianapolis.
Rabbit
While rabbits are related to rodents, they have an extra set of incisors (front teeth), which puts them into a completely different family group.
Opossum
The Virginia Opossum is the only native marsupial found in North America.
Share your discoveries by using the hashtag #TCMatHome on social media!
