Geology & Fossils
All of the major geologic regions of the eastern United States pass through Georgia. The Appalachian Plateau, Valley and Ridge, and Blue Ridge Mountains occupy Georgia’s northwest corner. To the southeast lies the Piedmont. It is in these highlands that Georgia’s oldest fossils are found. These are mostly fossils of marine animals that lived more than 230 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era.
Imagine a giant standing with one foot in Georgia’s mountains, and the other foot in the lower coastal plains. The foot in the mountains would be touching the very distant past, while the foot in the lowlands would be touching the recent past and the present.
Common Coastal Plain fossils include snails and bivalves — such as clams and oysters. In fact, a giant oyster which grew to more than a foot in length was suggested for adoption as Georgia’s state fossil. One of the most important giant oyster fossil sites is just south of Augusta, Georgia’s first capital. But giant oysters are not as exciting as the fossil Georgians finally chose.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
