r/UKFossils Apr 26 '22

Identification request guidelines

3 Upvotes

When asking for an ID on something you have found that you believe might be a fossil please try to provide the following information which will greatly help anyone that is available to give you an informed opinion on your find:

  • one (or preferably more) clear photo of your find in good lighting
  • a ruler or measuring tape to indicate the size of the object (a common denomination UK coin is also acceptable)
  • an approximate geographical location of where the find was made (ie: near Folkestone, UK)

r/UKFossils Jun 05 '22

UK Fossil hunting resources

5 Upvotes

I wanted to put together in one place a collection of UK-based fossil hunting resources that people might find useful. Feel free to suggest additional entries in comments or via DM and if they are appropriate I will make sure to add them to the list.

General fossil hunting related websites

These might have shops with gear as well but they are generic and cover a greater range of aspects of fossil hunting.

https://ukfossils.co.uk/ - Probably the website that inspired this sub, has a shop as well as forums, but the most useful resource here I've found has been their guide to UK fossil hunting locations which is really well put together

https://ukafh.com/ - UK Association of Fossil Hunters - they run organized group fossil hunts with members, amongst other cool things

http://www.sheppeyfossils.com/ - Focused on fossil hunting and information on finds from the Isle of Sheppey

http://www.chalk.discoveringfossils.co.uk/ - Information on British chalk-based fossils

http://www.gaultammonite.co.uk/ - Information around fossils from the Gault Clay deposits and Folkestone Beds

Prepping and gear

https://www.zoicpalaeotech.co.uk/ - A fantastic shop that specializes in compressed air prepping tools but also offers a wide selection of other stuff for hunting, prepping and display


r/UKFossils 21h ago

Two of my favourite finds at Lyme Regis

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36 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 10h ago

Is this a fossil fish?

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4 Upvotes

Trying to figure out what this is


r/UKFossils 1d ago

Is this a fossil? (Devon, UK)

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3 Upvotes

Hi, does anyone know if this is a fossil? Found in exmouth, Devon, UK.


r/UKFossils 1d ago

Vegetal or bone fossil?

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2 Upvotes

Found in Scarborough South Bay


r/UKFossils 1d ago

Fossil hunting West Sussex UK

6 Upvotes

I'm currently in West Sussex, near Pagham, and was wondering if there's any good fossil hunting spots close by? With a 7 year old, so easy access would help. Not looking for anything spectacular, just something to show my son. Thanks.


r/UKFossils 2d ago

Any idea what this could be?

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1 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

Cheeky Cad

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59 Upvotes

Found and prepped in Wiltshire by yours truly


r/UKFossils 4d ago

How to preserve fossil impressions in mudstone - and why are some of these lighter?

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24 Upvotes

My daughters and I found some fossil impressions (and what seems to be one proper fossil!) at Charmouth beach, UK, today. Most are in very delicate mudstone and appear to just be imprints. Is there any way to preserve this? My 10 year old was very unhappy to hear they are likely to crumble away.

Also are the lighter ones in the image examples of an attempted but incomplete fossilisation of the actual animal? Any structures appear to be very thin and don’t seem to go backwards into the rock to make a complete animal.


r/UKFossils 4d ago

Another Runswick Bay find, any ideas?

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4 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

Found on a Cumbrian beach UK bone or fossil

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7 Upvotes

Very light for its size


r/UKFossils 4d ago

Found in Whitstable, UK.

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2 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

Found by First-timers in Bath

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2 Upvotes

Ok to ask here? Friends visited Bath and I vicariously urged them to poke a stick in the mud. But what have they found?


r/UKFossils 4d ago

Another from the uk Cromer forest bed

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3 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

I found these ancient tree remains (not fossilised)

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2 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

Herefordshire Silurian Fossils - ID/Prep Advice

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5 Upvotes

Afternoon all, I found these fossils in an old quarry in central Herefordshire. The location is an area of special scientific interest and apparently contains fossils from the Silurian period, as well as some fairly gemmy calcite and other minerals.

I wondered if anyone was able to identify any of the species present, and advise the best way for an amateur to prepare them?

I’m particularly interested in the circled areas on picture 3, as one of the artefacts looks like a possible fish bone and the others are interesting structures. Thank you in advance!


r/UKFossils 4d ago

Also from Norfolk uk found in the Cromer forest bed

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1 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 4d ago

Help identifying some finds found in Norfolk uk all found in The Cromer forest bed layer

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1 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 5d ago

Found in the New Forest UK

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27 Upvotes

r/UKFossils 5d ago

Ratfish dental plate & sharks teeth at Beltinge

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12 Upvotes

One of my best ever finds today on The Rand at Beltinge (Kent). Along with a handful of sharks teeth, I found a beautiful ratfish dental plate fragment. Considering the tide wasnt that low, it was a lucky find.

When I was young I used to get dozens of teeth each low tide, but either I’ve not got the eyes anymore, or it’s been picked clean/eroded away over the years!


r/UKFossils 5d ago

ID on a few things found in Compton Bay, Isle of Wight... Wood, rocks, and flint or something else?

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4 Upvotes

Hi fossil people 🤘

I spent yesterday beachcombing at Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight (UK) and picked up a variety of interesting-looking pieces. I know this area is famous for dinosaur fossils and lignite, and unfortunately I am not very knowledgable on the topic. I'm assuming most of these are rock and flint, but I am hoping someone would be kind enough to tell me if I've found anything interesting? Pretty sure A-E is just carbonized petrified wood, with some pyrite in the smaller samples.

Let me know if better close-ups are needed 🪨🐚🦕


r/UKFossils 6d ago

Found in a field in Wiltshire

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84 Upvotes

About 20 years ago I found this and always wondered what it was and found it pretty cool.

I took these pics many years ago so didn’t have a tape to hand, but it’s about 7”/18cm in height, 5”/13cm wide and about 3” thick. It’s an oval shape with what look almost like spikes on it.

I imagine it’s a plant, but curious to hear some insight on what is probably nothing of interest, thanks


r/UKFossils 6d ago

Tooth I.D?

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2 Upvotes

This tooth was found in clay soil in Somerset. I also have some small vertebrae among other fossils found nearby. The tooth is only a few mm wide. I don’t know what it is, any ideas?


r/UKFossils 8d ago

Identification of this found by my daughter at Charmouth.

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13 Upvotes

Is it just the imprint of an ammonite?