Indiana is home to a variety of fascinating geological features. The state is well-known for its limestone formations dating from 570 to 245 million years ago. This was a time when our continent was located closer to the equator, allowing for warmer temperatures. In addition, the land was covered by a shallow sea teeming with life, including clams, snails, and other ancient animals. These creatures had shells full of calcium and as they died, their shells created layers upon the sea floor. Over time, the weight of the shells formed solid rock called limestone.
These limestone formations are often home to fossils. Fossils are created when shells are buried without breaking into smaller pieces. Over time, the shell deteriorated and were replaced with limestone, forming a fossil replica or print.
Falls of the Ohio State Park and Clifty Falls State Park, both located along the Ohio River, are home to large fossil formations. Clifty Creek’s stony bed is full of fossils, including ancient corals, ancestral squids, brachiopods, and much more. But please know, fossil collecting within any Indiana State Park is prohibited.
