Where to Find Fossils in Georgia: 30 Mapped Sites
Georgia has 30 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are CM Loc. S-228 - Griffins Landing [Griffins Landing Mbr, Dry Branch Fm], Dawson-Albany Road, and Gulf Coast Tertiary II. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 2 of the 30 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Georgia
All 30 fossils sites in Georgia. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Georgia
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 Georgia: CM Loc. S-228 - Griffins Landing [Griffins Landing Mbr, Dry Branch Fm], Dawson-Albany Road, Gulf Coast Tertiary II, J. M. Huber Corporation Kaolin (Clay) Pit, Twiggs Clay, M 59.
Local reporting distinguishes Agatized Fossil (1 site), Agatized Coral (1 site).
Of the 30 sites, 2 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Georgia
- CM Loc. S-228 - Griffins Landing [Griffins Landing Mbr, Dry Branch Fm] — Other
- Dawson-Albany Road — Other
- Gulf Coast Tertiary II — Other
- J. M. Huber Corporation Kaolin (Clay) Pit, Twiggs Clay — Other
- M 59 — Other
- M 61 — Other
- M 63 — Other
- M 64 — Other
- M 694 — Other
- M 888 — Other
- Mayfair — Other
- Millidgeville, near — Other
- Nearshore zone +1, Dalton Quadrangle, Hamilton Mountain — Other
- Nearshore zone -4, Villanow Quadrangle, Furnace Creek Section — Other
- Offshore zone +3, Kensington Quadrangle, east of Old Bethel Church — Other
- Offshore zone + 3, Kensington Quadrangle, west of Pigeon Mountain — Other
- Offshore zone +6, Fort Oglethorpe Quadrangle, Powder Mill Branch — Other
- Offshore zone +6, Kensington Quadrangle, West of Pigeon Mountain — Other
- Offshore zone -9, Cedar Grove Quadrangle, West Chickamauga Creek — Other
- Pentremites-Spirifera-Fenestellidae community, Floyd Shale — Other
- PRI 1926 — Other
- PRI 2217 — Other
- Reynolds — Other
- River Road — Public Access
- Savannah, near — Other
- Turtle River — Other
- USGS Loc. M 25923 - Mercers Mill, Tebannee Creek [Ripley Fm] — Other
- USGS Mesozoic Loc. 844. Bluffs on left bank of Chattahoochee River at Blufftown — Other
- Withlacoochee River — Public Access
- Yarbrough Cave — Other
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 Georgia?
Georgia has 30 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are CM Loc. S-228 - Griffins Landing [Griffins Landing Mbr, Dry Branch Fm], Dawson-Albany Road, and Gulf Coast Tertiary II. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Georgia?
We have 30 documented fossils sites in Georgia, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Georgia?
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 kinds of fossils are found in Georgia?
Reports from Georgia distinguish Agatized Fossil (1 site), Agatized Coral (1 site).
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, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.