You are currently here: Home > Fossil Locations > South East > Seaford

In partnership with JuniorGeo

Location and directions Directions: Access to Seaford is made along the A259. Traveling east a small narrow track leads to a cliff-top car park (see map above). Public footpaths lead to the beach. From the access point, walk west along the coast.		Key information Geological period Cretaceous Approximate age 100-70 million years Fossil diversity Echinoids, Bivalves, Sponges... Find frequency Average Dangers Risk of falling rocks Equipment Hammer, Chisel, Eye Protection... Accessibility A long walk / tough terrain Local facilities Parking only Additional notes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
How would Seaford have looked 100 million years ago?

Introduction

Seaford is a good place to find fossils.  The chalk cliffs are located just west of Seven Sisters, about 12 miles East of Brighton. Access to the beach is made via a footpath leading from the car park at the top of the cliffs.  You'll also need to descend a number of steps.

Access to the beach is made via a short walk from the cliff-top car park

Local information boards provide a background to how the chalk cliff's formed, including the river Cuckmere.

Visitors can read about the local geology (Click here to enlarge)

Where to look for fossils?

Fossils are common in this area and include a variety of brachiopods, bivalves and echinoids.  The best place to look for fossils is within the chalk cliffs, however for safety reasons it's advise to keep clear of the cliff base.  There are plenty of chalk boulders on the beach, many of which contain complete specimens.

For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.

What fossil might you find?

Echinoid spine within Seaford Chalk (Right close-up)

Recent cliff collapses provide a good source of chalk to examine.

Many of the fossils are clearly visible on the surface of the chalk, resulting from continuous erosion by the wind and sea.

Complete echinoid within foreshore boulder.

Many of the echinoids are incomplete, often visible as cross sections within the chalk or flint nodules.  The examples below illustrate this.

Echinoids from Seaford

The pictures below were supplied by Robert Randell (British Chalk Fossils).  They show two good examples of echinoids which can be collected from Seaford.

Echinoids from Seaford (Left - Micraster, Right - Gautheria)

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.

Printing guidelines: Discovering Fossils is designed to be printed in landscape (horizontal) format; printing in portrait format will result in text being missed.  To print selected pages, simply select print from your internet browser and specify landscape from the printer's 'Properties' menu.  Printing is permitted for non-commercial use and is subject to international copyright law. If you experience any difficulties printing or have a question regarding the use of printed materials please contact us for further information.

 

  

Picture credits: White Tipped Reef Shark by Alistair Watters at travelblog.org; Sea Snail by Jeffrey Jeffords at divegallery.com; Sea Potato from teachnet.ie; Echinoid by M.Mora at asturnatura.com. Safety notice: Fossil hunting can at times pose a risk to personal safety, in particular within environments close to the coast, cliffs or in quarries and when using the tools and equipment illustrated. Discovering Fossils provides a free resource to inform you about this fascinating subject and does not accept any liability for decisions made using this information. We recommend all individuals abide by the 'National Fossil Hunting Code' and independently research the potential dangers before and during the visit.

Shop   Home   Fossil locations   Resources   Events   Contact

Written and designed by Roy Shepherd