Fossil Museum

The latest addition to our museum is now open. Athough its use is primarily earmarked for classes and meetings, it contains some very interesting new displays. Our most recent acquisition is the large partial skeleton of a Yorkown whale. Check out the News page for photos and more information.

It's always a good day when the Pit of the Pungo gets new fossil dirt. The new fossil soils we received in May have dried out nicely and are prime for sifting. Some great micro fossils have been found, including cookie cutter and whale shark teeth.

The Aurora Fossil Museum, founded in 1976, is a non-profit fossil education resource center. Our museum’s mission is to increase knowledge of the geology and paleontology of the coastal plains of North Carolina. We accomplish this task through exhibits, outreach programs and field studies. Our own fossil pile, affectionately dubbed the 'Pit of the Pungo', is an unlimited source of Miocene age fossils donated by our local phosphate mine. In these fossil rich soils, one may find the remains of ancient sharks, whales, bony fish, corals, shells and other invertebrates. Our staff will willingly provide personal assistance and other resources to help you identify your finds. Bring a garden trowel or sifter and plastic bags, spend the day collecting with us, and take home a piece of the past.

The museum has a wide variety of Pleistocene, Pliocene and Miocene marine fossils on display. Most displays feature specimens collected from the local PotashCorp mine (formerly referred to as Lee Creek). This famous mine has been called the most important source of Pliocene and Miocene fossils in the world.