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PREPARING FOR A FOSSIL HUNT
Sensible precautions The cliffs around Lyme Regis are crumbling all the time and it is obviously dangerous to go too close to them. Mudflows are frequent and it is said that you could equip an army with the boots left behind by holiday-makers who got stuck. Another hazard is slippery sea weed, beware especially of the green kind that grows profusely on stone slabs. Above all, every fossil hunter must be aware of tide conditions –you can be cut off at bends in the cliffs if you ignore warning signs. If you are not quite sure what to do (and especially if you have children with you) then consider going on an organised fossil hunt led by a local expert. These tours are available throughout the year and details about them can be obtained from the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre. What to take A geological hammer is not essential because water has done the work for you in rinsing fossils out of the cliffs and on to the beaches. Your best asset is a good pair of eyes. That said, a hammer is useful for trimming pieces of rock containing fossils. If you use one then ft makes sense to protect your eyes with a visor or goggles and your hands with gloves. A hammer is also useful for giving scale to photographs, particularly when recording the impressions of giant ammonites in boulders. Plastic bags are convenient for retaining your larger fossils. Polythene sandwich bags are ideal for small and cherished finds; all too often an exquisite specimen is tucked into a pocket from which it falls out. The chances of finding it again amongst the shingle are remote - it is much easier to locate a bag blowing about the beach! A kitchen roll is worth carrying for use in wrapping up and protecting your fossils although ordinary newspaper will do for bulky finds. A hand lens with a ten-times magnification is needed to appreciate the finer details of the fossils and crystals that we shall consider. A portable telephone will give you peace of mind but make sure your battery is fully charged! What to wear Strong footware is advisable at any time of the year, otherwise clothing to suit weather conditions is the rule. Never underestimate the chill factor when the wind is blowing from the east during winter. This is often the best time to go fossil hunting, especially after stormy weather when cliff falls are frequent and the shingle is rapidly turned over. It is worth noting that the beaches around Lyme Regis can be surprisingly warm when cold winds are blowing from the north over the cliff-tops. Code of Conduct Is it all right to collect fossils from the beaches around Lyme Regis ? The simple answer is that if you don't pick up the loose fossils derived from shale then the sea will, crushing them beyond recognition. Some of the biggest names in fossil hunting live in or near Lyme Regis and they face a constant battle in rescuing specimens that would otherwise be pounded into oblivion. Rest assured that you are doing something of a service by keeping your fossils, especially if they are subsequently shown at a school for the benefit of general education. Plastic dinosaurs are fun but those bits of Jurassic history to be picked up around Lyme Regis are the real thing! When it comes to the cliffs it is a very different story. Cliffs are edges of land and it is understood that anything in them belongs to the owner of that land. Fortunately, the owners are well aware of the need to record specimens before the cliffs succumb to the forces of coastal erosion. It is in this spirit that a code of conduct has been drawn up, copies of which can be procured from The Charmouth Heritage Centre. Where to go There are two major sites for fossil hunting within easy walking distance from the Lyme Regis: Monmouth Beach (to the west of the Cobb) and the beaches to the east of the town (towards Charmouth). If you are new to the area then explore Monmouth Beach first. Its fossils are easy to make outand you will be In sight of the Cobb and emergency services. You will also get to know the tides and become acquainted with the earliest of the Jurassic formations. |