Where to Find Fossils in Alabama: 82 Mapped Sites
Alabama has 82 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are 0.5 miles northeast of Pelham, Bessemer Iron District, 1 3/8 mi N of Fort Deposit, in cut of Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and 1.75 miles northeast of New Hope Church, north of Pelham. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Alabama
All 82 fossils sites in Alabama. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Alabama
Fossils live in sedimentary rock — limestone, shale, and sandstone. Fresh exposures are everything: roadcuts, creek banks after storms, quarry spoil, and eroding badlands beat weathered outcrop every time.
The richest reported sites in Alabama: 0.5 miles northeast of Pelham, Bessemer Iron District, 1 3/8 mi N of Fort Deposit, in cut of Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1.75 miles northeast of New Hope Church, north of Pelham, 3.2km south of Melvin, 137m east of N-S Road, 362-i. Cahaba Valley, south of New Hope Church, 7 miles north Pelham.
All Fossils Sites in Alabama
- 0.5 miles northeast of Pelham, Bessemer Iron District — Other
- 1 3/8 mi N of Fort Deposit, in cut of Louisville and Nashville Railroad — Other
- 1.75 miles northeast of New Hope Church, north of Pelham — Other
- 3.2km south of Melvin, 137m east of N-S Road — Other
- 362-i. Cahaba Valley, south of New Hope Church, 7 miles north Pelham — Other
- about half a mile southwest of Elliotsville Church — Other
- ACh-14 — Other
- ACl-12 — Other
- ACon-3 — Other
- ACon-6 — Other
- AGe-1 — Other
- AGr-5 — Other
- Agr-7 — Other
- AGr-9 — Other
- Alabama Hwy 29, (Unit 2, Chickasawhay Lmst.) - Toulmin et al (1951) — Other
- AMo-9 — Other
- APn-1 — Other
- BARYT — Other
- Bashi Fm., Alabama — Other
- Battsmith Bluff — Other
- Birmingham, Red Mountain Expressway cut, bioherms — Other
- BL — Other
- Buck's Landing — Other
- CB — Other
- CB-L — Other
- Chattahoochee River between mouth of Cowikee creek and Eufaula — Other
- Chattahoochee River, old Burdock Landing (USGS 848, 5386) — Other
- Choctaw County — Other
- Coffeeville — Other
- Coffeeville Landing, south fault block, lowermost shell bed — Other
- Conecuh River — Other
- Dry Creek — Other
- East side of Jaycee Park Road, Livingston (AL6) — Other
- EDAM — Other
- Eocene Wilcox Bashi Marl — Other
- Fail, southeast — Other
- G. S. Moore Farm — Other
- Harrell Station — Other
- Harrell Station Paleontological Station (lot 2792) — Other
- Linden — Other
- Lock 3, cut on Seaboard Airline RR. 6 miles east-northeast of Ragland — Other
- “lower” and “middle” Lisbon Formation, Alabama — Other
- Lowndes County — Other
- M 19 — Other
- M 21 — Other
- M 300 — Other
- M 311 — Other
- M 649 — Other
- M 878 — Other
- Marinna and Byram section, (Unit 1, Mariana Limestone) - Toulmin et al (1951) — Other
Showing 50 of 82 sites — every site appears on the map above.
How to Identify Fossils
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find fossils in Alabama?
Alabama has 82 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are 0.5 miles northeast of Pelham, Bessemer Iron District, 1 3/8 mi N of Fort Deposit, in cut of Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and 1.75 miles northeast of New Hope Church, north of Pelham. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Alabama?
We have 82 documented fossils sites in Alabama, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Alabama?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify fossil?
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
What should I bring to collect fossils?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Fossils in Nearby States
Data: Paleobiology Database — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.