When out fossil hunting...

So I thought I would do a post about things to remember when out and about doing your own fossil hunts, hopefully you'll find it helpful!

Do your research: This is a very important thing to do before even deciding to go on a fossil hunt. There are many helpful websites that can point you in the right direction. Firstly decide what it is that you actually want to find, i.e. ammonites, mammal remains, microfossils etc. This will help to narrow down the locations that you can hunt at. For instance if I wanted to find dinosaur bone, my best bet would to be to head to the Isle of Wight or Hastings which both have good outcrops of the Wessex Formation.

Once you've decided on what fossils you're most interested in finding you can decide on a specific location. Don't forget to take into account things like parking, accessibility to the site and whether you are taking children as it would not be best to take children to the more dangerous locations. Many people in England will visit Charmouth or Lyme Regis due to its fame and the number of fossils available to collect.

This brings us nicely on to the next bit of research you need to do, is the site protected and do you need special permissions? All along the Jurassic Coast from East Devon throughout Dorset you'll find that the coastline has SSSI status. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, in a nutshell this means that there must be no damage to or digging in the bedrock and cliffs, this is to help preserve the unique fossil collection and delicate geology. If you find something substantial in situ then it is important that you notify someone, preferably a local palaeontologist, and don't attempt to remove it as you need special permits to do this. However, collecting fossils that are loose on the beach in the SSSIs is perfectly acceptable. It is also important to note that certain fossils may also be protected, for instance, the dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Wight are protected by law and it is a crime to attempt to remove them from the beach.

It is best to check the weather before you go as well, if you're brave enough to go out in the wind and rain then chances of finding something are better as the fossils are washed out of the rock. If visiting a coastal area it is imperative that you make a note of the tide times so that you are not cut off by the tides, this can be a real hazard. It is best to visit after a spring tide or during a neap tide as this will improve your chances as well.

Above: Flat Pavlovia rotunda in situ at Chapmans Pool
with foot for scale

 Be prepared: If you are planning to stay out hunting all day then ensure that you have plenty of water, especially if you are planning on walking a long way. Take plenty of food as well so that you keep your energy levels up. If it is going to be particularly hot, take sun screen and a hat to prevent overheating and sunburn.

If you want to collect potentially delicate specimens then take some kind of packaging, newspaper or bubblewrap is suitable, or little pots for smaller fossils. You may also want to invest in a geological hammer or lump hammer to crack open nodules to see if there is a fossil inside, I would suggest caution with this as you do not want to damage your find, if you are certain there is something inside then perhaps prepare the nodule back at home with more care.

Health and Safety: This is paramount. Your safety and the safety of others around you is of utmost importance. I would highly recommend using hard hats whilst on a beach, if only while you are close to a cliff. Remember, look up before you look down, if the cliff looks unstable it is not worth the risk, cliffs can collapse without any warning. Your hard hat will help protect you against small pieces of falling debris. Also if you are hammering nodules or other rocks, use protective eyewear, you do not want to damage your eyesight if a shard of rock flicks up, it is simply not worth it.

If it is a stormy day, it is recommended to wear a high visibility jacket so that other people can see that you are out. Also, in wet conditions do not wear jeans, you will increase your risk of hypothermia, or a nasty cold! Plus jeans aren't very flexible, you'll be spending a lot of time bending down, wear something warm, waterproof (waterproof overtrousers are a good idea) and comfortable. This applies to your tops as well, thermals, fleeces or waterproof/windproof coats for the winter conditions. Your choice of footwear is also very important. A lot of the time you will be walking over uneven ground, covered with boulders and shingle. Good, sturdy boots with ankle support is best if you want to avoid rolling on your ankle and doing yourself some damage. Boots also provide you with added grip on uneven surfaces as well as providing warmth and comfort for long walks.

If you find something: The key to finding something is to know what you are looking for and what it looks like. For example, if you are searching for bone then look out for very dark material that has a sort of honey comb structure inside, careful not to pick up fossilised wood as it can look quite similar sometimes. Some people suggest looking for things that look like burnt wood with holes in, sometimes the simplest description is the best.

If you are lucky enough to find something, whether it is fossilised bone, an ammonite or a trace fossil, it is best to record exactly where you found it as there may be more associated remains to what you have found. For example finding a vertebrae of an Ichthyosaur could be an indication of more remains nearby this will allow you to return to the same place and find more of the animal. If you find something you are unsure of then it is best to take it to a professional who can classify the find and give you more information on it. Try not to damage the fossil though as you may lose important information about the find.

Above: Footprint of unknown theropod dinosaur at
Hannover Point, Isle of Wight with geological hammer for scale

But remember in most protected areas, in situ remains are to be left. But you may want to take a camera in order to photograph in situ remains and report them to a local palaeontologist, use something like a pen, your foot or your hammer as scale in the photo so they can see how big your find is.

It is also good to remember that you are not the only one who is looking for fossils in that particular location, only collect what you need and leave some that you don't necessarily need for others to find and marvel at so that their day is a success as well.

Happy Hunting!