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You are currently here: Home > Fossil Locations > South West > Lulworth Cove |
In partnership with JuniorGeo |
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Introduction
Lulworth Cove is a fantastic place to widen your understanding of geology, geological processes and fossils. The scenery is breathtaking and will impress beginners and experts alike. There are few locations in the world, where so much prehistoric understanding can be gained.
View east over Lulworth Cove.
In recent years, Lulworth has developed an extensive number of facilities for visitors and tourists. The Heritage Centre is a great place to start your visit.
Lulworth Heritage Centre is free to access and a great place to start
Inside, you'll find information about the local geology, as well as videos of the processes leading to the dramatic landscape. Other features include actual specimens of fossils retrieved from the coastline, including a fantastic dinosaur footprint (picture below).
Views from inside the Lulworth Heritage Centre, including a dinosaur footprint (Right)
Lulworth is part of the 'Jurassic Coast' project and as such has a number of information boards located around the cove. The boards are well presented and communicate the foundation knowledge needed to appreciate the geology. You can view the information board by clicking on the smaller version below.
Where to look for fossils?
Lulworth is one of the most famous locations in the UK for finding fossils. The cove comprises rock dating from 150 to 65 million years ago, including Portland Stone, Purbeck Beds, Wealden Beds, Greensand and Chalk. As a result, the fossils found at Lulworth are varied and reflect the conditions present throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous period.
When entering the cove, the first rock you encounter is the Greensand. In this instance Discovering Fossils did not spend time examining rock for fossils. Instead we headed further around the cove to the chalk, which is naturally rich in fossils. However the relatively slow rate of erosion restricts the volume of fresh deposits. If you look carefully, you'll almost certainly find evidence of marine creatures, especially bivalves (pictured below).
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossils might you find?
The photo above (right) shows a small bivalve fragment within a chalk pebble. This particular specimen was found on the most Northern edge of the cove. If you require more information about chalk fossils click here.
Continuing around the cove, towards the East, you eventually reach the Purbeck Beds. These contain a notably large volume of the fossil oyster Praeexogyra distorta (pictured below).
The next point of interest is the 'Fossil Forest', which contains superb evidence of trees that grew 135 million years ago. The following extract is taken from the local information boards.
135 million years ago, Lulworth was a richly forested peninsular, jutting into a vast salty lagoon, then the sea level rose, drowning the forests. The climate was much hotter in those days, and evaporation caused the water to become even saltier. Only special algae could grow in this hostile environment and they flourished on on the submerged trees, trapping the rock particles for thousands of years. The stony mounds they produced can be seen today as strange hummocky shapes (stomatolites) of the Fossil Forest.
Directly above the fossil forest, lies the 'Broken Beds', this rock face is continuously eroding and depositing itself on the platform below. Surprisingly, within just a couple of minutes, we were able to collect several pieces of fossil fish (to be confirmed). The photos below show a small fish scale (left) and a small jaw, including teeth (right). We're seeking a formal ID of these finds and will include this within the review shortly.
In summary, Lulworth Cove is an excellent place to spend a day looking for fossils. To truly appreciate the area, you should allow two days.
The great thing about Lulworth is that it's geared to education and provides information boards at every point of interest. The Heritage Centre and adjoining shop are both excellent - you can purchase study materials and souvenirs of your visit.
Whether you're traveling as an individual, family or group of students, Lulworth Cove will not fail to impress.
You should also keep an eye out for some modern descendants hiding within the grass...
A small lizard found at the eastern edge of the cove.
Within a stone's throw of Lulworth are Stair Hole and Durdle Door, both of which offer a similarly interesting insight into former life. Discovering Fossils has prepared two separate reports dedicated to these geological features. Click below to view.
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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