Photo credit: Virginia State Parks | CC
The last Stratford Cliffs event of the year is for NHSM Fossil Club members only!
Other Stratford events (August and October) will be open to non-members.
Please check out those if you would like to join us.
We are returning to Stratford Cliffs for some fossil searching and hope you can join us!
Stratford Cliffs, located in Montross, Virginia (on the south side of the Potomac River, adjacent to Westmoreland State Park) is part of the Stratford Hall plantation owned by four generations of the Lee family (and is now cared for by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation).
The estate encompasses 1900 acres of farmlands and forests on a high bluff overlooking the Potomac River. The Cliffs, which are part of the Calvert Formation, are a rare geological phenomenon. The Calvert Formation cliffs along the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River rank among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. They were formed when land replaced an ancient sea. Fossils found here are composed of compacted marine plant and animal matter dating from the Miocene Epoch–approximately 17 to 10 million years ago.
Fossilized remains found at this site indicate a sea filled with primitive shark-toothed porpoises, salt-water crocodiles, sea cows, gopher turtles, rays, whales and sharks. Thousands of shark teeth found along this area attest to the frequency of the sharks, largest among them being Carcharodon megalodon, or Giant White Shark, with teeth measuring 7 inches or more.
Most of the land along the shoreline is privately owned, and public access is severely limited, so we are lucky to have this opportunity!
The driving time from Baltimore is an estimated 3 hours.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (low-intensity hiking). This is a rain-or-shine event.
What to wear/bring:
- Please wear closed-toe shoes with sturdy soles. We strongly encourage you to bring waders, as the water may be high and it is often cold this time of year.
- Pack snacks, water, and a brown bag lunch, if you get hungry.
- Do you have a scoop, a screen, small shovels, sieves, etc.? Bring them! Metal detectors are not allowed.
- You may want to bring a set of dry clothes, in case you get wet.
Difficulty: This field trip is moderately strenuous (derived from the combination of the colder weather by the water and decent hiking). Depending on what storms have impacted the river, there could be washed up trees and debris on the beach, as well as broken glass. There could be a few scramble spots.
Age Restriction: This event is not intended for young children. Stratford has a minimum age requirement of 8 years old.
Additional information will be provided to attendees closer to the trip date.
Cancelation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences
Cancelations made 7 or more days in advance of the field experience are eligible for a refund. Cancelations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend.