Girl, 9 years old, discovers rare prehistoric megalodon tooth in Maryland waters: ‘I couldn’t believe it’

A 9-year-old woman from Prince Frederick, Maryland, has made the final word paleontological discovery: a 15 million-year-old megalodon tooth.

Molly Sampson, alongside along with her sister, Natalie Sampson, 17, and her dad, Bruce Sampson, went out to hunt “treasure” in a bay close to Calvert Cliffs on Christmas Day.

The younger woman was prepared for the day’s fossil hunt as a result of she was capable of put on the brand new insulated waders she had been “begging” for, she advised Fox Information Digital.

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Molly Sampson and her treasure searching workforce left their dwelling at 9:30 a.m. to hunt for shark tooth.

Whereas out in knee-deep water courtesy of her new Christmas waders, she seemed over and noticed her Christmas miracle: a 5-inch-long megalodon tooth.

Her sister and father went over to see what Molly Sampson was so enthusiastic about.

They had been amazed by the invention.

“I’m so thrilled in regards to the shark’s tooth Molly discovered,” Bruce Sampson advised Fox Information Digital. 

“Not solely due to the dimensions and rarity of the discover, but additionally due to the enjoyment and pleasure I get to see in my children with all of their discoveries.”

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“I used to be so excited, and I stored pondering I used to be dreaming,” Molly Sampson mentioned. 

Molly Sampson (left), her sister Natalie Sampson and pop Bruce Sampson left their dwelling at 9:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, Dec. 25, to search for fossils in a bay close to Calvert Cliffs.
(Alicia Sampson)

“It was one thing I’ve at all times needed to seek out, and I could not consider it.”

Bruce Sampson mentioned he was “shocked” by his daughter’s “once-in-a-lifetime discover.”

“Do not get used to it,” he mentioned he joked along with her. “That is the type of discover each fossil hunter goals of.”

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This isn’t the primary time she’s discovered a megalodon tooth throughout her fossil hunts — however she’s by no means discovered one this huge.

Molly Sampson of Maryland, who’s in fourth grade, compares the largest tooth she’s ever discovered — to the smallest.
(Alicia Sampson)

“I’ve discovered 5 different megalodon tooth, however they’re solely an inch or two” in measurement, she mentioned.

“Discovering one this massive may be very uncommon [and unique] due to how massive it’s.”

“Discovering one this massive may be very uncommon [and unique] due to how massive it’s.”

When Molly Sampson got here dwelling from her discovery, she whispered to her mother, “I do know God put that there for me,” the household advised Fox Information Digital.

Paleontologist weighs in

The household took the prehistoric treasure to Dr. Stephen J. Godfrey, curator of paleontology at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland, to see what data he may share in regards to the creature that after had the tooth.

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“From the place she discovered the tooth alongside Calvert Cliffs, it’s about 15 million years previous. So it got here from the center of what geologists would discuss with because the Miocene epoch,” Godfrey advised Fox Information Digital in an interview.

Molly Sampson has over 400 fossils in her assortment, in keeping with her Instagram account.
(Alicia Sampson)

Scientists are capable of age the sediment by which a fossil is discovered to then age the fossil itself, together with the presence of “radiometric isotopes” that can be utilized to “radiometrically age” the sediments by which a fossil is discovered, Godfrey mentioned.

“Radioactive isotopes change over time,” he additionally mentioned, “and it’s that very fixed (clock-like) price of change that can be utilized to age the sediments and by extension the fossils inside.”

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Primarily based on the dimensions of the tooth, Godfrey was capable of give an estimated measurement of the creature to which the tooth belonged.

Molly Sampson (heart) visited Dr. Stephen J. Godfrey (sitting beside her), curator of paleontology at Calvert Marine Museum, who helped share intriguing details about the megalodon tooth she discovered.
(Alicia Sampson)

“Molly’s meg tooth would have come from a shark between 45-50 ft lengthy. So, when it shed that tooth, it will not have been as giant a megalodon because it may have grown to be,” Godfrey mentioned.

“It was a ‘younger teenager,’” he mentioned. “The very largest megs are calculated to have been 65 ft lengthy.”

Molly Sampson’s enormous megalodon tooth is the most important in her assortment, nevertheless it additionally is without doubt one of the largest discovered within the Calvert Cliffs space, Godfrey mentioned.

Megalodons are “one of many — if not the most important marine macropredator the world has ever identified,” Godfrey advised Fox Information Digital.
(Tim Scheirer/Courtesy Calvert Marine Museum)

Megalodons are “one of many — if not the most important marine macropredator the world has ever identified,” mentioned Godfrey. 

“Megalodons lived from about 25 million years [ago] to about 2.5 million years in the past.”

He added, “They formed [and dominated] the worldwide marine ecosystem, international marine food-webs and the evolution of many various sorts of marine mammals, their most well-liked prey.”

“I’ve gotten messages from adults telling me I’ve impressed them to go outdoors extra and discover.”

Molly Sampson shared the information of her prehistoric treasure discover on-line — and it has since garnered quite a few responses from individuals everywhere in the world, together with India, Spain, France and Germany.

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“I’ve gotten messages from adults telling me I’ve impressed them to go outdoors extra and discover,” mentioned Molly Sampson.

Molly Sampson began fossil searching along with her father, Bruce Sampson, when she was very younger — and hopes in the future to develop into a paleontologist.
(Alicia Sampson)

Molly Sampson has been fossil searching along with her dad ever since she was little. The seashores with cliffs in Calvert County have been a fantastic spot to seek out prehistoric treasure, the household mentioned.

“I’ll by no means cease!” she advised Fox Information Digital. “I’ve advised my mother I need to accumulate fossils and research them after I develop up like a paleontologist.”

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The woman mentioned she’s loved sharing her findings with others on her web site and social media account devoted to her discoveries. 

“Once I picked [the tooth] up, I used to be the primary individual to the touch it and that’s actually cool to consider,” Molly Sampson advised Fox Information Digital.
(Alicia Sampson)

“I believe it is actually cool that I’m the primary human to ever maintain that tooth because it was within the mouth of the megalodon,” Molly Sampson mentioned.

“Once I picked it up, I used to be the primary individual to the touch it and that’s actually cool to consider.”

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On Jan. 25, Molly Sampson was welcomed to the ground by the Home of Delegates of Maryland.

On Jan. 25, Molly Sampson was introduced onto the Maryland Home flooring throughout a session and honored for her discovery of a prehistoric tooth. 
(Alicia Sampson)

Whereas the legislators had been in session, they honored her for her discovery in a Home Decision by the delegates.

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The doc she obtained mentioned partly, “The Home of Delegates of Maryland presents its sincerest congratulations to Molly Sampson, in recognition of your discovery of a prehistoric megalodon shark’s tooth within the Chesapeake Bay.”