Young Maryland Fossil Hunter Finds Massive Megalodon Tooth Along Calvert Cliffs

LUSBY, Md. — A day of fossil hunting turned into an unforgettable moment for young Southern Maryland adventurer Jaxon Hinton, who recently discovered a massive prehistoric shark tooth along the shoreline of the Calvert Cliffs.

The 4 1/2-inch tooth belonged to the ancient Megalodon, a massive shark that swam the oceans millions of years ago and could grow to nearly 50 feet long.

In an interview with The BayNet, Jaxon’s father, Jason Hinton, said the moment his son realized what he had found he was filled with excitement and a bit of panic at first.

“We started off the day by getting to the beach at 11:30 a.m. Within 10 minutes of arriving he had found a 2-inch megalodon tooth,” Jason said. “We walked about another mile finding small teeth. On our way back he was ahead of me by about 35’ and he started yelling ‘Dad, Dad, Dad’ with his hands covering his face.”

Jason said his first thought was that something was wrong.

“I started thinking about the worst case scenario, thinking he got hurt, so I ran up to him and asked ‘What’s wrong?’ and he pointed down,” he said. “That’s when I saw the tooth starting to expose itself from underneath the sand in the water. I’m trying to process what I’m seeing when I realize it’s the root of a large megalodon tooth.”

You can watch the video of the moment Jaxon found the tooth on their Facebook post.

The family had been searching along the fossil-rich cliffs, a well-known destination for shark tooth hunters.

“We were fossil hunting along the Calvert Cliffs,” Jason said. “Any beach we go to in any state we search for teeth and shells as a hobby, just hunting with him makes any location special.”

A Hobby Years In The Making

Jaxon’s love for the outdoors started early. According to his father, he has spent time exploring beaches since he was a baby.

“Jaxon has been going to the beach since he was a baby,” Jason said. “He’s always been fascinated by marine wildlife. As he has grown older and understands more about prehistoric finds he has gotten more curious.”

Today, fossil hunting is just one of many outdoor passions for the young adventurer.

“Jaxon loves to be outside doing any activity,” Jason said. “He’s an avid fisherman, hunter, metal detectorist and fossil hunter.”

His persistence has paid off. For nearly five years, Jaxon had been hoping to find a Megalodon tooth of his own.

“Jaxon knows that on any day he can come across the find of a lifetime,” Jason said. “We had already walked past this spot where he found this tooth so for him to find it on our way back shows him that the tide can shift and show you things that were hidden just a short time before.”

You can view Jaxon’s finds from Calvert Cliffs in a Facebook video here.

A Rare Find

The tooth measures about 4 1/2 inches — an impressive size even for experienced fossil hunters.

Jason, who has been searching for Megalodon teeth for more than two decades, said the discovery stands out among hundreds he has found.

“I’ve been hunting megalodon teeth for 23 years and I’ve found over 300 with only two being close in size to his,” Jason said. “It’s a rare find but they’re there. The hardest part is finding them with all of the serrations, enamel, root and burlet still intact.”

For Jaxon, the discovery quickly became an object of fascination.

“Jaxon was mesmerized,” Jason said. “He has held it every day and has loved watching it dry out completely to reveal its true color which is lighter than when he originally found it. He’s been researching to see what position the tooth would’ve been in the Megalodon’s mouth.”

A Proud Father Moment

Jason said seeing his son finally achieve the goal he had worked toward for years brought a flood of emotions.

“I know how hard it is to find a tooth of that caliber and any time that I’ve asked him to go with me he’s never said no, no matter if it’s 10° or 90°,” Jason said. “He’s determined, devoted, understands that sometimes we won’t always find something but he never gives up. It was a proud dad moment for sure to raise such a dedicated son.”

Moments like this, he said, are about more than just the fossil itself.

“I know these are days he will never forget and one day when he has children of his own he will be able to pass along stories of the things he grew up doing with me like I’ve had the pleasure of doing with my own father,” Jason said. “These are things you never forget.”

What’s Next

Even after finding the fossil he had been searching for, Jaxon already has his sights set on a new goal.

“A 5-inch or bigger Megalodon tooth,” Jason said.

While the young fossil hunter enjoys learning about his discoveries, his future ambitions lie in another arena.

“No!” Jason said when asked if the find might lead to a science career. “Although he loves the hobby and enjoys researching things he discovers his ultimate goal is to be a professional baseball player.”

Advice For Young Fossil Hunters

Jaxon also has advice for other kids hoping to make a discovery of their own.

“Don’t give up,” Jason said, sharing his son’s advice. “If you’re unsure of something, flip it over.”

For families interested in fossil hunting in Southern Maryland, Jason recommends visiting several popular locations, including Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Cliffs State Park, Purse State Park and the Calvert Marine Museum, which he said offers exhibits that inspire young explorers.

For Jaxon, however, the thrill of the hunt remains the real reward, and the beach may still hold even bigger discoveries waiting beneath the sand.

Photos From Over The Years

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