Fossil Hunting

Triple Creek RV Park is an utterly unique RV destination located just outside of Woodville, Texas, tucked away in a quiet forest and surrounded by thousands of acres of tranquil nature. Each year, students from the Sam Houston State University Archaeology Department visit Triple Creek to sift through the creek sands in search of abundant fossils. Fossils found in Tyler County are generally marine invertebrates—such as clams, snails, crinoids, and ammonites—from a time when the region was covered by an ancient sea, but they also include Miocene-era vertebrates like frogs, sirens, and snakes, with nearby sites even yielding dinosaur remains. Dating back 5 to 23 million years, these Miocene finds are especially fascinating; while it’s common to uncover relics from large mammals, researchers recently discovered the lower jaw of a tiny shrew, highlighting the remarkable diversity preserved in the area’s history.