It was an ordinary day. Looking at a photograph that was in my local newspaper that featured a young boy holding what at first I thought was a seashell. But, the more I looked at it I realized it was something different. Then I read the caption under the photograph and I realized I was looking at something I had never seen before. This 8-year-old young boy was holding a 4 3/4" angustiden tooth between his left thumb and first finger. How I would have loved to have found something like that! My wife and I have a collection of seashells that number in the hundreds as well as a smaller collection of teeth from sea creatures, but nothing like the one in the paper. Riley Gracely recently traveled with his family to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania for a vacation before the start of school. During vacation Riley discovered an immense fossilized shark tooth that was from an extinct species of shark. His discovery made him a national hero.
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| Riley Gracely with his discovery |
He found the immense tooth when he and his family decided to go on a fossil dig at Palmetto Fossil Excursions in Summerville. He and his family had visited the location in the past and always had a good time. This year they were able to dig in a pile of dirt the company had just moved from land that was being dug up for a pond on someone's private property. Riley's father, Justin said they each had a shovel and just began digging in the dirt. About a half-hour later, Riley discovered the tooth after seeing a sharp edge sticking out of the new dirt. He yelled for his dad who helped him uncover the tooth. The tooth is a 4.75-inch Angusstiden tooth that is thought to have belonged to a mega tooth shark species known as caracoles angustidens, that lived between 22 million and 35 million years ago and reached a length of roughly 30 feet. Do you know how many zeroes are needed to type the age of the tooth? The excitement that prevailed after he found the tooth must have been amazing. Fox News had to make a visit. Riley's dad says his son feels like a rock star! He really is an Angustiden tooth star! That's way better than being a regular old rock star! So...what has Riley and his family done with the historical tooth? Well, Riley has it in his room while a family friend makes him a special display case for it. Riley's dad says he loves the outdoors and the family is already looking forward to doing another fossil excursion next year. My wife and I are planning to move shortly to a retirement community and plan to take our large collection of shells, rocks, teeth, etc. with us. Can't imagine having something like Riley has to put on display for all to see. What a find. He can now claim to be an Angusstiden tooth star. Something that not many people can claim to be. Best of luck on your next dig, Riley. Gonna be tough to top that tooth! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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