Fossil Hunting on the Jurassic Coast - A Really Ancient Surprise!
A Journey Inspired by Mary Anning
In the early 1800’s a young woman rocked the stuffy conservative world of paleontology. Mary Anning grew up in the coastal town of Lyme Regis, England. Her life story reads like a captivating tale of discovery against the odds and has been documented in both the 2020 film, Ammonite starring Kate Winslet and Tracy Chevalier’s novel, Remarkable Creatures.
Growing up in a humble household, Mary was introduced to the world of fossils by her father, a fossil collector who tragically passed away when she was just eleven. Undeterred by her circumstances, Mary took to the cliffs along the Jurassic Coast, where she meticulously searched for fossils. Her keen eye and unwavering determination led her to uncover some of the most significant finds of her time, including the first complete Ichthyosaurus skeleton in 1811, which would later revolutionize the understanding of prehistoric marine life.
As Mary meticulously excavated the cliffs, she not only collected remarkable specimens but also challenged the scientific community's perceptions of extinction and evolution. Being a girl, and not from “society,” her discoveries, including the Plesiosaurus and a variety of other marine reptiles were overlooked and undervalued. Mary’s relentless spirit and passion for paleontology, however, paved the way for future generations of women in science.
Fossil Hunting in Charmouth
Mary’s story inspired me to include a visit to Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast to try my hand at fossil hunting. My husband and I spent 3 weeks walking sections of the South West Coast Path. The addition of a stop along the way to fossil hunt turned out to be a remarkable experience. One that I’m kind of proud, even it was more luck than anything else!
Laden with our large backpacks, my husband and I navigated our way to the little town of Charmouth, 5km east of Lyme Regis. Charmouth is on what is known as the Jurassic Coast - a stretch along the south coast of England dubbed “Jurassic” due to the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Triassic fossils found on its rocky beaches. The area also has a 153 km stretch of the South West Coast Path. Charmouth is a sweet, sleepy seaside town in late September, especially when the clouds are heavy and dark with the promise of rain.
We were staying nearby in Lyme Regis but with the unfavourable timing of check-outs, check-ins, trains and buses, we arrived at the beach in time for our pre-arranged fossil walk with our backpacks. The Charmouth Heritage Centre has staff with expertise in geology, paleontology, marine and environmental protection. They kindly allowed us to store our packs in the office while we joined a group of eager fossil hunters on the beach.
From Hopeless to Hero (for a Moment): Jurassic Coast Surprise: I Found a Dinosaur!
I will preface the next turn of events with the fact that I’m usually pretty hopeless at finding hidden things. Our family was avid geocachers for a while and I was rarely the one who found anything. I can’t stand hidden word searches and I only do easy puzzles or the edges of hard ones!
After a quick lesson on what to look for, the group was let loose on the beach beneath stunning cliffs striped with layers of geological history. I crouched on the beach, ignored my unhappy knees and back, and eventually spotted something small and black. It stuck out from the other rocks in colour and had a bone look about it. I showed it to the group warden and he became quite pleased - even proud of me! He took a picture, rattled off the things that seemed to make it special, and told the rest of the group to gather around my find stating it was likely a marine reptile! Feeling a little chuffed, I smiled at the attention (knowing it was pure chance - no skill!) and kept looking as my heart was set (quite honestly) on finding a circular ammonite - a classic-looking fossil.
At the end of the allotted time, with my finds crammed in my pocket, we headed back to the Heritage Centre office to collect our backpacks just as the heavens opened. Drenched fully and completely - with a walk to the bus stop to look forward to - we asked the warden to return our bags. While we waited, he asked if I would mind showing his boss my fossil find. I pulled the small black stone from my pocket and Phil, the boss, leapt forward. A true lover of ancient rocks, his enthusiasm was infectious. He said - NO! This is not a marine reptile…. (plus a bunch of things I didn’t understand) it is, indeed, a DINOSAUR FOSSIL!
Wow, I replied. Then he looked at me intensely, in a way that told me I wasn’t being as ecstatic as he felt. He emphasized his point by sharing that he had worked at the Centre for 17 years and had only ever seen TWO of these! Two! 2!! 🤯 OK, I was waking up to the fact that this really was a special rock!
Paperwork was whipped up and I was asked to share my contact information. I was recorded as the finder of the fossil and they hoped I would be open to being contacted in the future if more of this Plesiosaurus (likely) was discovered as it would be thrilling to reconstruct the skeleton.
Of course!
But as I was filling out the paperwork, I had a wave of insight and emotion. I had just visited the British Museum which is a treasure trove of things that the British have “plundered” throughout history. I had left the museum with a bad taste in my mouth. I am aware of my naivete about museum collections and I’m sure ownership is complicated, but it just felt wrong to look at priceless artifacts in London and not in their places of origin! So with a wave of “I can do better” - I offered Phil the fossil to keep, as a donation. It belongs in Charmouth, I said.
My name is now alongside the little black rock in the “Rare Finds” collection at the Charmouth Heritage Centre. If you find yourself in Charmouth one day - take a look and send me a picture - my teensy moment of paleontological fame!
A soaked but happy fossil finder!
Inspired to Discover? Explore the World's Fossil Hotspots
If my experience has ignited your inner paleontologist, consider adding some fossil-rich activities to your travels. Look for your own fossils at places like:
Badlands of South Dakota
The Isle of Wight (just along the coast from “my” dinosaur find)
The Triassic treasures of Argentina’s Ischigualasto Park.
Canada’s fossil Hot Spot in Drumheller, Alberta
All incredible opportunities to connect with Earth’s ancient past.
Thankfully, there are fantastic museums and institutions dedicated to showcasing these incredible discoveries in case you don’t find your own! London’s Natural History Museum (which reminded me of being in Hogwarts), New York’s American Museum of Natural History, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Canada are just a few places where you can delve deeper into the fascinating world of paleontology and learn more about the creatures that once roamed our planet.
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