Dreams came true for a 9-year old girl in Maryland when she found a rare, prehistoric shark tooth on Christmas morning.
Molly Sampson has been fossil hunting from an early age, and even hopes to become a paleontologist when she grows up. After receiving a fossil sifting basket and insulated waders for Christmas, Molly and her older sister Natalie were eager to use them. The two sisters, along with their father Bruce made way to their favorite fossil hunting spot, Chesapeake Bay's Calvert Cliff's. Before beginning their hunt, Molly declares she is looking for a megalodon tooth.
After about half an hour of searching in the below freezing temperature, Molly is shocked to find none other than a five inch megalodon tooth. "I went closer, and in my head, I was like, 'Oh my, that is the biggest tooth I've ever seen!'" Molly says in an interview with NPR. "I reached in and grabbed it, and dad said I was shrieking."
The next week, Molly and her family went to the Calvert Marine Museum to confirm its identity. Stephen Godfrey, curator of paleontology at the museum and Molly's former science teacher, says it might be a "once-in-a-lifetime" find. He says the five inch tooth is one of the largest found along the Calvert Cliffs, and is believed to come from the upper left jaw of a 50-foot megalodon from 15 million years ago.
The Calvert Marine Museum shared Molly's discovery on social media, which has inspired other kids to take an interest in science. Molly's mom, Alicia says their family has received dozens of emails. "It's kind of cool that she was motivating other kids to get outside and explore," Alicia explains.
Molly has added the megalodon tooth to her extensive collection of over 400 teeth.