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Fossils dating back 9 million years unearthed during construction at high school

Year after year, students have walked the halls of San Pedro High School in Los Angeles. 

What seemed to be an ordinary renovation turned out to be an extraordinary discovery when a trove of ancient fossils was uncovered. 

"The San Pedro High School originally consisted of 1936 campus buildings surrounding a central courtyard. The courtyard had not been impacted much since the school was built, but had a number of important utilities planned as part of a 2021 construction project," Dr. Wayne Bischoff, director of cultural resources for Envicom Corporation, told Fox News Digital via email. 

"During work in the courtyard in early 2023, I discovered large numbers of fossil bones from the Late Miocene time period (8.7 million years ago) that were embedded in limestone blocks being removed. Envicom worked with LAUSD and Pinner Construction the next year recording and salvaging fossil blocks as the trenching work continued."

Dr. Wayne Bischoff led the findings of millions of fossils under a California high school. (Dr. Wayne Bischoff, Envicom Corp)

Many fascinating fossils were excavated from the Los Angeles site. 

A number of the fossils belong to species that no longer exist today that lived during a time when the Palos Verdes Peninsula was underwater. 

Many shark teeth were found during excavations, including ones belonging to the megalodon, the largest shark to ever exist. (Dr. Wayne Bischoff, Envicom Corp)

Many of the fish species that were found have never been recorded in Southern California, Bischoff added. 

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"Students have not been allowed on the active construction site, but have helped us in the laboratory to sort and identify fossils and shells from our collection," Bischoff told Fox News Digital. 

The discovery will be of great educational value to students, say experts. (Dr. Wayne Bischoff, Envicom Corp)

"Students will play a larger role in the future as we enter into a new phase for the discovery, which will involve making educational displays, murals, and showcasing some of the recovered fossils," Bischoff continued. 

Currently, the fossils found are being held at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

There are also smaller collections at LAUSD and at the Cabrillo Aquarium, Bischoff said, with large amounts of fossil blocks currently at California State University Channel Islands.