What to look for?
Scan the tide lines where waves crash onto the shore for dark triangular shapes, especially after a storm. Low tide is best and sandbars where water is constantly shifting the sands tend to be hot spots. You might find teeth from white sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks, and if you’re lucky, a tooth from the massive prehistoric megalodon. Patience is the key and can pay off if you spend a good amount of time in one place looking down. Some people use a sifter as well. A good way to know if you have a tooth is that the crown of the tooth is smooth and shiny and often reflects the sunlight. “Shiny and black, bend your back,” is a saying shark teeth hunters hold true. Sharks actually have really weird mouths. Their gums constantly produce teeth and are like conveyor belts. The oldest teeth are in the front which are used to chomp on food. These teeth are loosely connected and regularly fall out. Rows of younger teeth behind the older teeth replace them.
How does a shark’s tooth get black? When a shark dies and its cartilage dissolves, the teeth fall to the bottom of the ocean and get covered with sandy sediment. This sediment prevents oxygen and destructive bacteria from reaching the tooth, and it fossilizes over the course of about 10,000 years. That’s why most of the teeth that are found and collected aren’t white, but gray, black or brown—the color of the sediment. The tooth absorbs the minerals in the sediment and these minerals eventually replace the dentine and enamel that makes up the tooth. Voila, you have a fossil on your hands. That fossil could end up as a piece of jewelry, or as a weapon like American Natives made hundreds of years ago. Or maybe your treasure will make an interesting display in your home and a great conversation piece. No matter, the fun was in the search and discovery. And once you snag that prize tooth, you will be hooked for life. Happy shark teeth hunting! Photo Credits: Chris Whitlock, Misty Bullock Lewis, Brennan Sawyer. Editor’s Note: To learn more about diving opportunities with Diver’s Den, visit DiversDenGeorgia.com or call 912-882-7078.
A Diver’s Den treasure.
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