Ammonites, as shown above, had spiral shells which fossilised to form the fossils we find today. Although they are found globally, specimens from the Jurassic Coast are just about the most sought after. The soft rocks and clay of the Jurassic Coast on the south coast of England release a steady stream of fossils onto the beach with each new high tide or winter storm. For any beginner, the beaches between Charmouth and Lyme Regis are the best and safest place to try fossil hunting. They are however animals closely related to starfish and sea urchins. The Jurassic Coast Trust has produced a truly fascinating little picture book illustrating the geology of this World Heritage Site.
The Museum of Jurassic Marine Life at Kimmeridge is home to some world firsts and the fossils on display were all collected along the local coastline by renowned fossil collector, Dr Steve Etches MBE. Crinoids are commonly known as "sea lilies" as they look like fossil flowers. (Tommy Trenchard) Some of the most iconic fossils in the world come from this coast and the remains of a huge variety of extinct animals and plants can be found here. A new code of conduct for the collection of fossils from along the Jurassic Coast has been adopted – with those who break it facing legal action. Fossils can come from almost anywhere along the Jurassic Coast, but they are mostly quite hard to find and in some places fossil collecting is not allowed without permission. The Jurassic Coast was the cradle of palaeontology in the 19th Century and is now a hotspot for palaeontologists and fossil hunters. The rocks that make up the cliffs at Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Kimmeridge are rich in fossils of animals that swam in the Jurassic seas. The Jurassic Coast is one of Englands UNESCO World Heritage Sites that’s perched on the south coast of Great Britain.
Our fossils range from beautiful pyrite ammonites to marine reptiles, crinoids (sea lilies) and more.
The soft rocks and clay of the Jurassic Coast on the south coast of England release a steady stream of fossils onto the beach with each new high tide or winter storm. The remains that have been found along the Dorset coast since the eighteenth century represent one of the richest slices of life in Jurassic times anywhere in the world! Jurassic Coast Fossils offers fossils from the UK including ammonites, marine reptiles such ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, fish, crinoids and more. They are both extinct types of Mollusc, a diverse group of animals to which current day mussels, clams, snails, slugs, cuttlefish and octopus belong.
An international team of paleontologists from the University of Plymouth, the University of Kansas and the Forge Fossils has found a specimen of the squid-like cephalopod Clarkeiteuthis montefiorei preserved with the herring-like fish Dorsetichthys bechei in its two arms; the bones in the head of the fish are broken in a manner that suggests a quite violent attack. Most of our fossils …
The Jurassic Coast is one of the most important sources of Jurassic reptile fossils in the world, including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, giant pliosaurs and even a unique dinosaur called Scelidosaurus. What makes this area so special is the fact that you can go fossil hunting and explore the incredible landscapes of the Jurassic Coast.
Wondering where is best to see or hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast?
The most common Jurassic Coast fossils in this area are Ammonites and Belemnites. We also offer a range of high-quality fossil replicas and fossil jewellery from the cradle of palaeontology. When there isn’t a global health crisis, hundreds of thousands of amateurs and professionals visit the area’s stony beaches each year. We offer a range of fossils all found on the world famous Jurassic Coast of the UK, one of the best places in the world for fossils and the cradle of palaeontology in the 19th Century.