Unearth Fossil Wonders: Fossil Hunting on the Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast

Lyme Regis & Charmouth

Every tide on the Jurassic Coast reveals fossilised prehistoric organisms, ready to uncover them? The Jurassic Coast is a treasure trove of fossil secrets, where every tide reveals extinct organisms from a by gone age. From ichthyosaur vertebrae to shimmering pyritized ammonites, this coastline has been yielding incredible finds for centuries, you only have to look at Mary Anning the legendary fossil hunter who discovered the first complete Plesiosaurus in 1823!

Plesiosaur specimen on display at the Charmouth Heritage Centre. Image credit: James Ronan, 2023.

The marine sediments are made up of dark, muddy clays which formed quickly in a biodiverse and nutrient rich warm sea. Eastward the rocks get younger, with siltstones, sandstones, and limestone deposits which were deposited in shallow seas. The coastline is popular for fossil hunters and provides a wealth of fossil material if you know what to look for and are lucky enough to find it!

Where to Hunt for Fossils

Charmouth & Lyme Regis – These Lower Jurassic rocks are packed with fossilised marine reptiles, fish, & insects. The dark, muddy clays formed in a nutrient-rich sea, preserve ancient organisms in stunning detail.
Black Ven Marls – A hotspot for pyritized ammonites & belemnites, where golden fossils glimmer in the shingle.
West Beach – Keep an eye out for ichthyosaur vertebrae, crinoid stems, & ammonites hidden among the stones.

Charmouth Fossils

You can explore my fossil discoveries in Charmouth in the photos below.

Small ichthyosaur caudal vertebrae found in the shingle on Charmouth.
Two fused ichthyosaur vertebrae found in the shingle on Charmouth West Beach.
Belemnites found on Charmouth West Beach.
Ammonite and belemnites found at Charmouth West Beach.
Belemnites, crinoid stem and small pyritised ammonite found in the shingle at Charmouth West Beach.
Pyritized ammonite in iron pyrite lump found in Charmouth near the Black Ven Marls.
Small pyritized ammonites and segments found near the Black Ven Marls in Charmouth.
Belemnite and fragments found near the Black Ven Marls in Charmouth.
Belemnite fossils found in Charmouth.

Safety First: Fossil Hunting Tips

Stay clear of unstable cliffs – The coastline erodes rapidly, & landslides are common.
Watch the tides – Fossil hunting is best done at low tide to avoid getting caught out & stranded.
Follow the Fossil Collecting Code – Respect the land & its history by collecting responsibly.

The coastline erodes rapidly and experiences significant landslides. Safety when exploring the coastline and fossil hunting should be a priority adhering to the fossil collection codes, keeping track of the tide times and staying away from the cliffs, which are unpredictable and unstable.

If you are visiting the Jurassic Coast to do fossil hunting it is important to be aware of and adhere to the fossil collecting codes. You can access the collection codes at the links below.