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Fossilling In Charmouth
Fantastic, an authentic piece of dinosaur in your hand. It is a possibility...
Fossil hunting is not only for scientific types - it’s a pleasurable pursuit that can be done by the whole family. Dorset, in the south of England, gives superb fossil beds. Any person can have a go at searching for dinosaur teeth or bones there. Why not get yourself to Dorset and try this satisfying and absolutely free activity, you will never know what will turn up!
Dorset is home to The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site - 95 miles of impressive coast designated by UNESCO as having ‘outstanding universal value’. The rocks are certainly special because they record 85 million years of Earth’s historical past, spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They are fossil rich.
The Jurassic coastline is England’s only natural World Heritage Site and it is a jewel. It goes from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland in Dorset, home of the well-known Old Harry Rocks.
You can easily while away numerous hours on the Dorset coast in search of fossils. A great destination for fossil hunting is actually Charmouth. The beach has easy accessibility, parking, a café and public lavatories. Charmouth is a nice village of fewer than 2000 inhabitants, boasting a good sized shingle beach. It has an interesting Heritage Coast Centre on the seafront with lots of insight on the natural history of the region. It is justly famed for fossils and appeals to serious collectors and beginners alike.
There are numerous fossils can be found throughout every season although the perfect time to look is actually during the springtime or the winter months because there are much less people on the beach then, and the storms and extreme high tides help to reveal new fossils. Search in the shingle and on the tide line, particularly as the tide starts going in. Target a small area and keep your eyes peeled.
Charmouth is especially good in the winter. waves lash the coast and come up over the sea wall, throwing large stones up at the same time. Surfers can be spotted too taking advantage of the waves.
The most prevalent fossil at Charmouth is the ammonite. They lived in the sea between 240 - 65 million years ago and belong to a class of predators referred to as cephalopods. Surviving relatives include the octopus, cuttlefish, squid and nautilus. It’s incredible to discover these beautiful spiral shells and to be the first person to hold them so many years after their death. Also in plentiful supply are belemnites. They first appeared around 208 million years ago and are relatives of the ammonites.
At one end of Charmouth beach is Black Ven and at the other is Stonebarrow. Black Ven is the biggest coastal mudslide area in Europe. Ammonite impressions can be uncovered in the mud but most are so delicate that they break up if not treated very carefully. To reach Stonebarrow you have to cross a small bridge over the river. Stonebarrow is good for ‘fools gold’ ammonites and crinoids - ‘sea lilies’ which are relatives of starfish.
If you're lucky, you may come across a really amazing find. Any important finds must be registered with the World Heritage Team (01305 225101). After heavy rainfall in the year 2000 local collector Tony Gill found the fossilised remains of a 5m long icthyasaur, now named ‘Mary’.
It’s easy to get hooked on looking for fossils and it’s remarkably calming too. Absolutely anyone can get involved, and kids seem especially good at it. You don’t have to have any special gear to look for fossils but if you're planning a few hours of fossilling it helps to have sturdy shoes as well as a strong bag to put your finds in. If you work with a hammer you will require protective eyewear or glasses as rock fragments easily fly up in the air. Hammers should only be used to split loose stone and not to hack at the cliff face You may be better off simply looking along the shoreline anyway.
Remember that rocks can fall anytime. Check the tides and only set out along the coast during a falling tide. Mudslides also occur, especially after stormy weather and so keep an eye out and don’t take silly risks.
If you want an expert on hand, guided walks on the coastline can be booked from the Heritage Centre.
For great views of this special coastline, the nearby Golden Cap headland between Charmouth and Seatown is the highest view on the south coast. At 191m above sea level it's a great vantage point from which to enjoy the wonderful Jurassic Coast of Dorset.
If this has got you interested in trying fossilling, why not take a look at some holiday cottages (try searching online for holiday cottages Dorset) and book a few days in Dorset.
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