|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Introduction
Steps leading to the beach from the cliff top.
Pakefield is a famous fossil location. A number of important finds have been made from the area during the past century. In particular the evidence of life that inhabited this area alongside our ancient ancestors is of particular importance.
However, it's worth noting that this location is only productive during or after stormy weather. During periods of improved weather, the accumulation of sand largely obscures the fossil bearing horizons. There's also the added problem of sediment from higher up the cliff slumping over the otherwise remaining exposures.
On a plus side, the upper sediments are comprised of material deposited during more recently by glaciers and include an assortment of fossils. The erratics includes mainly Kimmeridge Clay with Chalk to a lesser extent.
Where to look for fossils?
Should your visit coincide with periods of high erosion, then it should be possible to locate fossils protruding from the forest bed (pictured below). We are also advised by a local expert that sections of the foreshore are sometimes visible and have yielded near complete mammal skeletons over the years.
If it's not possible to find fossils within the forest bed, you can still find other fragments within the foreshore boulder clay that have fallen from further up the cliff.
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossils might you find? During our recent visit we observed a number of Jurassic belemnites and shell fragments within the boulder clay. There were also a large volume of plant remains within the limited forest bed exposures.
As a result, we do not recommend Pakefield for fossil collecting outside of November - March.
Discovering Fossils will make a subsequent visit to Pakefield to reassess the fossils during/after a period of stormy weather.
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.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
