Where To Look
Look for what seems to be a stream running down to sea (see photo below). This marks the dividing line between clay to the west and sand & pebbles to the east.
The best fossils are found in the clay but are relatively hard to find, whilst teeth can be found in large numbers in the sandy area in amongst the pebbles. These pebbles tend to appear in patches or mounds. Head for those. |
Tip: Whether you choose to hunt on the clay or the pebbles, the rate at which you find fossils will be greatly increased if you're kneeling down and slowly examining the area immediately in front of you. Walking about, randomly scanning for teeth rarely works. Don't worry about the slow approach though - As you get your "eye in" you speed up.
What To Look For
Fossil hunting is a skill but it's one anybody can pick up with a little patience.
Firstly, it's helpful to get to know the sort of fossils that might turn up, so check out the examples from the rest of my website. You don't have to memorise every detail, just familiarise yourself with the general shapes and features. This will give you a better chance to recognise parts of these fossils in amongst the background clutter or poking out of the sand. Some fossils will be lying there in full view, but the majority will be partly hidden. Thankfully the human brain is very good at picking out these sort of things.
Secondly, when you get to a spot you want to examine, take a moment to note what isn't a fossil. As you can see from the above photo of a pebble "patch", it is mostly made up of pebbles, shingle, mussel shells, and seaweed. The secret of successful fossil hunting is to train your brain to ignore all this, so that you can focus on what you're really after.
Firstly, it's helpful to get to know the sort of fossils that might turn up, so check out the examples from the rest of my website. You don't have to memorise every detail, just familiarise yourself with the general shapes and features. This will give you a better chance to recognise parts of these fossils in amongst the background clutter or poking out of the sand. Some fossils will be lying there in full view, but the majority will be partly hidden. Thankfully the human brain is very good at picking out these sort of things.
Secondly, when you get to a spot you want to examine, take a moment to note what isn't a fossil. As you can see from the above photo of a pebble "patch", it is mostly made up of pebbles, shingle, mussel shells, and seaweed. The secret of successful fossil hunting is to train your brain to ignore all this, so that you can focus on what you're really after.
To Collect Or Not To Collect?
It's not uncommon to find small bits of fossil or stuff you're not even sure is a fossil. Collect them anyway. There are several reasons why:
- It saves time. You only have 2 hours on the beach, don't waste it.
- It might be something rare.
- Occasionally, you can find the other bits of the same fossil nearby.
- Mystery items can be examined more closely when you get home and clean them. You might also be able to research them on the web or take them to an expert.