How are fossils made?

How does a Megalodon tooth become a fossil?

What is a megalodon?

With sizes up to 10 metres long, the megalodon was the biggest shark to have ever lived (in fact scientists think it was also one of the largest fish to have ever existed too). Megalodon teeth could reach up to 18 cm long. Did you know that ‘Megalodon’ literally means large tooth?. You can explore a megalodon tooth using the 3D model below. What features can you spot?

Want to know more about the megalodon? There’s a great article on the Natural History Museum website with lots more information to discover here.

Your challenge:

Look at the megalodon tooth above. This is a body fossil. In the video at the top of the page we discovered how body fossils such as bones and teeth are turned into fossils.

Your challenge is to create a step-by-step guide explaining how this giant shark tooth turned into a fossil.

You can either print and complete the worksheet below or create your own version using a pen, paper and colouring pencils.