History Left A Definite Mark At This One Fascinating Spot In New Jersey

New Jersey has an abundance of history. If you’re most fascinated with the past few centuries, there are plenty of places you can go to explore. From Batsto Village to the Princeton Battlefield, Revolutionary War cemeteries to mill ruins, the Garden State has got you covered. But what if you’re most interested in ancient history? Paleontology, perhaps? You can visit the Hadrosaurus discover site in Haddonfield, which many of us are familiar with, but there is another place…

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Riker Hill Fossil Site is a 16-acre paleontological site in Roseland, New Jersey, but you probably haven't heard of it... Image/Google Maps Even though it's one of the most significant fossil deposits in the United States. It is unique in the amount of dinosaur tracks that are preserved. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in June of 1971. You can find it adjacent to Becker Park and the Riker Art Park, tucked away behind homes and just off a major highway. Originally a stone quarry, dinosaur tracks were discovered here in 1968. Wikipedia/Dmadeo After this discovery, two local boys (Paul E. Olson and Tony Lessa) decided to explore and study the site. Over the course of several years, they uncovered more than one thousand dinosaur, animal and insect tracks from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic period. The site was almost turned entirely into apartments and retail complexes, but these boys would not hear it. They made a cast from a footprint of Eubrontes giganteus and sent that to President Richard Nixon to get support. Eventually, the quarry was split. While a portion of it does now lie under residences, the most valuable part of the park was donated to the county of Essex. The public was once free to visit and collect fossils, but access to the site is now restricted. Wikipedia/Z22 However, you're free to visit the art park, a former military outpost. Even though fossils can no longer be readily collected, I'm proud to have this historic site in our state. I would love to see it properly preserved, as it is so significant to paleontology but it remains mostly overlooked.

Did you know this site even existed? If you’re looking for a spot to collect fossils in New Jersey, we’ve got you covered! With proper tools (or simply a strainer) you may be able to find (and take home) fossils from this beautiful brook. You can also dig for minerals at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, one of my favorite New Jersey attractions.