Where to Find Fossils in Mississippi: 62 Mapped Sites
Mississippi has 62 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are Mississippi River, Twentymile Creek, and Waynesboro. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 4 of the 62 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Mississippi
All 62 fossils sites in Mississippi. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Mississippi
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 Mississippi: Mississippi River, Twentymile Creek, Waynesboro, Boro's, Newton, MS, 10-12" above base of outcrop; bag #1, Byram's Ferry.
Of the 62 sites, 4 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Mississippi
- Mississippi River — Public Access
- Twentymile Creek — Public Access
- Waynesboro — Public Access
- Boro's, Newton, MS, 10-12" above base of outcrop; bag #1 — Other
- Byram's Ferry — Other
- Catalpa Creek — Other
- Catalpa Creek — Other
- Cedar Creek — Other
- Clinton, near — Other
- Coon Creek tongue, cut of Southern Railway, 3/4 mi W of Wenasoga — Other
- Cynthia Pit — Other
- E. Hatchie Creek, Crum's old mill site, 16.5 mi NE of Ripley, at base of section — Other
- Enterprise, MS, RR cut, 3' below oyster bed C/E (unit 2) — Other
- Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis type locality — Other
- Frisco Railroad Bridge (No. 5710), 2 1/2 mi NW of Blue Springs — Other
- GARL — Other
- Goshen Springs — Other
- Gullies on Aiken farm, about 2 1/3 mi N of Starkville — Other
- Gullies on campus of Agricultural and Mechanical College — Other
- Highway 35 — Other
- Jablonski & Raup Locality 12 — Other
- Jablonski & Raup Locality 15 — Other
- James Creek — Other
- Lee's old mill, 2 mi NE of Keownville on road to Molino — Other
- M 139 — Other
- M 897 — Other
- Marquette Cement Company Quarry, Glendon Limestone — Other
- Mattuby Creek — Other
- MGS #113b — Other
- MGS 120 — Other
- MGS 15 — Other
- MGS 38 — Other
- MGS #39 — Other
- MGS #46 — Other
- MGS 7, Sewer excavation across Town Creek, Jackson — Other
- MGS Loc. 93 — Other
- Miller Bridge Bluff, Pascagoula Formation - Campbell and Otvos (1992) — Other
- Mint Spring — Other
- Miss. Bureau of Geology test hole 2, sample R4483A — Other
- Miss. Bureau of Geology test hole 5, sample R4879B — Other
- Miss. Bureau of Geology test hole PT 3, sample R4823 — Other
- Morton-Thiokol Drillhole, Jackson Cty (674-760 m) - Campbell and Otvos (1992) — Other
- North bank of Town Creek under the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio railroad bridge — Other
- on land of J.A. Roberts, 5 1/2 mi E of New Albany... — Other
- Otak Creek — Other
- Roadcut on W. side of Road, sample R4405 — Other
- Saphire Well Petroleum (391-979 m) - Campbell and Otvos (1992) — Other
- Shubuta, east — Other
- TECH — Other
- Tombigbee River — Public Access
Showing 50 of 62 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has 62 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are Mississippi River, Twentymile Creek, and Waynesboro. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Mississippi?
We have 62 documented fossils sites in Mississippi, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Mississippi?
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.
More to Find in Mississippi
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.