FOSSIL HUNTING AT BRACKLESHAM BAY

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Today we went fossil hunting at Bracklesham Bay SSSI, West Sussex.  I was so excited as I have loved fossils and dinosaurs since an very young age, and we were taking our young family with us.  We even made a cake to take with us.

Venericor bivalve shells

It is an amazing place to visit, and very family friendly with car park, toilets and cafe nearby. Make sure you visit at low tide as when the tide retreats it reveals a variety of fossils lying on the sand.  No need for picks or hammers; they are just present on the surface of the sand which have been washed away from the clay deposits. 

These fossils were formed 46 million years ago in the Eocene epoch when the area was a sub-tropical environment rich in biodivesrity.  Fossil finds have included seeds and fruits,  crocodile teeth and bones and turtle carapace.

Turritella shells

Bracklesham bay is home to many marine fossils including bivalve and gastropod shells, shark and ray teeth and corals. The fossils we found in abundance were giant cockleshells Venericardia sp. and gastropod Turritella.

The fossils are easily distinguished from modern shells as they become heavy in the process and take on a pale brown hue. We collected lots but most importantly we had a great family day out, and we all felt like explorers for a little while.  We can't wait to plan our next trip.

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