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Treasures from the Cliffs: Paleontology at CMM

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Fossils at the Calvert Marine Museum

There are many fossils on display at the Calvert Marine Museum.  But why?

During the middle of the MIOCENE epoch, 10 to 20 million years ago, the Atlantic ocean covered Southern Maryland.  At times the sea spread as far west as the present site of Washington, D.C.  Rivers flowing from the Appalachian mountains to the Miocene sea carried mud and sand which built up the layers of sediments now exposed as cliffs along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

As present-day rain and and waves erode the Calvert Cliffs, new fossils are exposed daily.  the vast majority of these fossils are the shells of clam and snail species that lived in this warm shallow ocean.  A diversity of shark and stingray teeth are also fairly common.  Sometimes, the remains of fish, turtles, crocodiles, oceanic birds, extinct whales, long snouted dolphins, seals, and sea cows are also discovered.  Since the sediments were accumulating in a marine environment, the remains of land animals are much less common.  Nevertheless, occasionally parts of Miocene peccaries, camels, horses, elephants, and rhinos among others, are found.

The paleontology exhibits at the Calvert Marine Museum include a new prehistoric time line.  This large mural includes many iconic fossils from Earth's prehistoric past to show where the fossil from Calvert Cliffs fit into the grand scheme of things.  Our exhibits also include original fossils of all the known groups of sea shelled animals that occur in the Miocene deposits of Calvert Cliffs, as well as the remains of sharks, fish, turtles, crocodiles, birds, whales, and land animals from this prehistoric time.  

You will be amazed at our restoration of the extinct Miocene giant white shark, Carcharodon megalodon.   Our exhibits also include a fossil preparation lab, a restoration of the fossil bearing cliffs, and large, full scale Miocene dioramas.

If you have an unusual fossil from Calvert Cliffs, our Curator of Paleontology would be happy to help you identify your find.  Please call ahead for an appointment 410-326-2042 ext. 28.

You can see the cliffs and gain access to the beaches at several public locations:

3) Matoaka Cottages/Beach Cabins is located just east of St. Leonard off of Calvert Beach Road.  There is a daily beach access fee.  Open year round. Tel: (410) 586-0269

4) Flag Ponds Nature Park provides access (on a seasonal basis) to its beach. There is a daily beach access fee.  Tel: 410-586-1477 (direct line) 410-535-5327 (reservations, groups)