So you fancy doing a bit of fossil hunting but have no idea where to begin ? Well this handy guide is for you. I created this guide that applies to UK laws only and talks only about UK locations. If you like this guide please follow my blog and show support!
- Understanding Fossils
- Essential Fossil Hunting Tools
- Follow Safety Guidelines
- Permits
- Obtaining Permission And Permits
- Reporting Significant Finds
- Join A Local Fossil Hunting Club
- Links And Further Reading
Understanding Fossils
Fossils are basically the preserved remains of ancient life, they can be found in certain location up and down the united kingdom they are usually millions of years old. New species are still being discovered by fossil hunters. Understanding what you are looking for will give you the best chance of finding something special. Familiarise yourself with different fossil types such as dinosaur bones, belemnites etc.
Types of fossils are : Footprints and trackways, Body Fossils, Petrification Fossils, Molds and casts, Coprolites.
Cast Fossils can contain teeth, leaves, embryos or leaves etc.
Essential Fossil Hunting Tools
Basic fossil hunting can be done with minimal equipment but if you want the best chances of discovering something special you need to get a small kit together !
You may need a chisel to help extract fossils from rock, a notepad and pen ( record finds locations etc) Time/Tides app ( check foe low tide for coastal hunting ) Bags and containers ( obviously for transporting your finds safely ) Geological Hammer to break open rocks. Safety glasses would be a good thing for flying debris.
A Camera/Phone to photograph trackways or dinosaur footprints etc. You dont need to collect anything while fossil hunting you can simply photograph what you find especially if it is on the ground or on a huge rock.
Follow Safety Guidelines
Super important to stay safe outdoors especially when climbing over rocks and hills etc. Be aware of changing tides! Look for signs at your locations and do not enter any areas that are blocked off or signage says do not enter. Do not try to remove very large rocks from the beach or cliff areas, and be respectful to nature. Don’t leave behind a mess.
Permits
Some areas are marked ( sites of specific scientific interest ) and its against the law to remove items or fossils from these areas because ongoing scientific research is ongoing! Please always double check your location before visiting because you may need a permit. They are usually only £5 to £10. Generally its free for amateur fossil hunters to pick up fossils along the sea shore but there are guidelines such as the ” fossil collectors code ” you must follow.
Obtaining Permission And Permits
You are abiding by the law by seeking permission from landowners to extract and collect , retain the fossils. If no one collected the fossils the sea would swallow them and erosion would take them away so fossil hunting is promoted by geological societies.
Reporting Significant Finds
If you believe you have found something significant then you can report your find to geological societies or local museums so they can figure out if any research needs to be done and give you guidance on how to handle your find. Who knows maybe something you will find will end up on display in a museum one day !
Join A Local Fossil Hunting Club
Look for a group/club that’s pretty local to where you live to make friends and socialise while fossil hunting, this is a great way to get knowledge from people who are already skilled fossil hunters and to shadow them. Groups always organise getaways that can be really fun. Simply look for groups on Facebook or meetup and ask to join.
Links And Further Reading
https://www.visit-dorset.com/explore/jurassic-coast/fossil-hunting/
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-find-fossils-on-the-beach.html
Discover more from Beauty realm
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Beauty realm 