Did the whale "beach" itself?

The thick clay sediments that preserved the whale bones contain few of the sand or silt grains commonly found on beaches. Microscopic fossils of foraminiferans and ostracodes contained in these clays however, indicate a near shore environment.

Because the bones are intact and not scattered about by scavengers, it is likely that the Charlotte whale settled undisturbed into the fine sediments of an offshore estuary or bay.

Click to read about Zadock Thompson, George W. Perkins, or current research on the Charlotte whale.

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Send questions, comments, changes, and additions to Wesley.Wright@uvm.edu and jefflhowe@verizon.net