Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Wayne Bischoff, Envicom Corporation/Courtesy Los Angeles Unified School District
A multi-year construction project at San Pedro High School in California uncovered millions of prehistoric marine fossils, dating back nine million years. The discoveries include remnants of various sea creatures and were first found in June 2022.
The fossils included whale bones, teeth from megalodon sharks, saber-toothed salmon, and other fish species. According to Dr. Wayne Bischoff from Envicom Corporation, the findings represent an entire oceanic ecosystem from millions of years ago, featuring sea mammals, birds, invertebrates, and plant life.
The fossils were found in what scientists believe was an ancient submarine channel, carrying material from shallow to deeper waters. Volcanic activity in the region likely contributed to the accumulation of these marine remains, according to Dr. Austin Hendy of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
The fossils were unearthed as part of a modernization project that began in 2022, with discoveries continuing into 2024. What started as a routine construction effort turned into a significant paleontological find, surprising both the researchers and the school community.
For students at San Pedro High School, the fossil discovery became a unique part of their educational experience. Some students, like senior Milad Esfahani, gained professional opportunities through internships at the Natural History Museum, assisting in cataloguing and studying the fossils.
So far, researchers have identified over 200 species from the fossils, though it may take up to a year to determine all the species present. The study of these finds provides insights into marine life from millions of years ago.
The discoveries offer a rare glimpse into the ocean's past, with fossils of fish, sea mammals, shorebirds, and plant life found all in one place. This extensive fossil record is being studied to understand the ecology of the prehistoric ocean that once covered the region.