Present-Day Developments: 32-Million-Year-Old Turtle Fossil Found in Clarke County
The Coleman family was enjoying a routine fishing trip along the Alabama River when they stumbled upon something extraordinary: a fossilized shell of a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle.
Thirteen-year-old Talah Coleman was the first to spot the unusual formation embedded in limestone near Jackson, Alabama. What began as a curious glance turned into a scientific breakthrough. With help from paleontologist Dr. Andrew Gentry, the fossil was excavated and identified as a previously unknown species, now named Ueloca colemanorum—a tribute to the family and their discovery2.
This is a splendid, enchanting, smart, and independent way of thinking—a family hobby turned historic. The Colemans have long made fossil hunting part of their fishing routine, passing down the tradition from one generation to the next. Their find is now housed at Birmingham’s McWane Science Center, where it continues to inspire awe and curiosity.
Watch the family’s story unfold!
