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You are currently here: Home > Fossil Locations > Isle of Wight > Hanover Point |
In partnership with JuniorGeo |
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Introduction
The south coast of the Isle of Wight exposes rocks of the Wealden Group, deposited in a floodplain setting during the Early Cretaceous, 140 million years ago. This is the most productive region in Europe for discovering dinosaurs, and a wide range of fossil material has been found. In the Early Cretaceous this region had a monsoonal climate with long dry summers and flash floods. The floodplain drained to the south and preserved channels are sometimes found to contain log jams with associated bones.
Parking facilities are found at Shippard's chine, just west of Hanover Point on the coastal road from Freshwater. The Wealden Group contains many soft sand and clay units and the whole stretch of coast in prone to rapid erosion, hence the end of the carpark is vanishing into the sea. The beach is accessed by steps at the end of the carpark, and a short walk east along the sandy beach leads to Hanover Point. Visitors should be aware of tide times and have suitable footwear if they intend to climb onto the rocky foreshore.
Where to look for fossils?
Dinosaur footprints are the most common fossils, and can be found loose on the beach as sandstone moulds, particularly at the base of the cliff. The rocky platform at Hanover Point contains footprints and a trackway exposed in situ on the bedding surfaces. Logs and fragments of fossil wood are also present and can be collected from the clay units where exposed. Dinosaur bones are very scarce but may be found amongst the concentrates of dense material which occur in patches on the beach at the base of the cliff.
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What might you find?
Dinosaur footprints are the most common fossils, most of which are large with three rounded toes and belong to the herbivorous Iguanodon. Much rarer prints, sometimes smaller and with narrow angular toes belong to the carnivorous Theropods. A trackway is exposed at Hanover Point, but highly irresponsible collectors have attempted to remove a print and evidently destroyed it in the process. Prints should not be collected, rather appreciated where and as they are.
Remains of Dinosaurs themselves are very scarce, though rolled bones may be picked up on the beach. Impressive articulated remains have been found by very fortunate collectors. Other Wealden vertebrates include fish, crocodiles and Pterosaurs. Fragmentary wood is very common and amber may also be collected on rare occasions.
In summary, Hanover Point is an easily accessible locality where a great many dinosaur foot prints can be viewed. Fossil diversity is low, and other than fragments of wood and very scarce bone material there is little for the collector to take home. Fossil footprints should be left on the beach.
Protecting your finds
It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and prevailing weather conditions.
(Left) Fossil wrapped in newspaper, ready for transport. (Right) A small compartment box containing cotton wool is ideal for separating delicate specimens.
When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock) and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time...continued.
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