Black Ven to Seatown
This covers the area within the World Heritage Site that is arguably the best to go fossil hunting for Jurassic fossils, as it is the richest source of lower Lias marine reptiles, fish and insects in the world. In addition to the Early Jurassic marine reptile, fish and insect fossils found here, fossil finds also include the much rarer ‘Charmouth dinosaur’, the Scelidosaurus and the pterosaur, Dimorphodon. The Cretaceous also yields considerable fossils such as lobsters, sea urchins and rare plants.
The Early Jurassic geology (201-185 million years ago) of this area was laid down in marine environments with occasional low oxygen. The exceptional preservation of giant marine reptile, fish and insect fossils of the Jurassic typifies this stretch of coastline. The area shows a dominance of life in a period of recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction event.
Where Early Cretaceous geology (105-100 million years ago) is present along this part of the coast, it preserves a shallow sea environment with rising sea levels over time. There is an unconformity present here between the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks.
Must see areas include:
- Golden Cap – the highest point on the south coast of England.
- Charmouth – exceptional for Jurassic fossil hunting
- Black Ven (active and historic coastal landslide area)
