LIVE FROM HASTINGS - 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th January 2003
Last update: 19:16 16th January 2003
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the fourth edition of UK Fossils LIVE. We are LIVE from Hastings, a sudden change of plan from our original planned Yorkshire trip. Unfortunatly tide times would have made limited collecting.
DAY 1 (13th January): Hastings
A trip was made to Hastings beach. The beach was unfortunately quite built up .However a fragment of dinosaur bone was found and a Hybodus sharks tooth was also found. A few shells were collected including the bivalve 'Neomiodon' and the gastropod 'Viviparus'. Photos will follow.
(Dinosaur Bone Fragment)
(Shell)
(Hybodus Sharks Tooth (part)
DAY 2 (14th January): Fairlight
A return to Fairlight to photograph the entire section to Hastings was made, Over 200 photos were taken, probably around 150 will be archived on UK Fossils. A few slabs of the 'Cliff End Bone Bed' was found and split, a large number of fish scales and teeth were found along with other bone fragments. Samples were taken back for further splitting back at the UK Fossil Base. Shells were collected from along the beach from Fairlight to Hastings.
The most spectacular find of the day was made nearing the end of the trip on the foreshore, looking on the foreshore and whilst collecting 'Unio' shells from the Foreshore Clay. A large crocodile tooth was found just over an inch in size.
(Crocodile Tooth)
DAY 3 (15th January): Eastbourne
It was planned that a trip to Bognor would also take place, however due to torrential rain and a large number of finds, their was simply not the time to do both locations. Eastbourne is currently being scoured out and their is a large number of rocks along the foreshore. Previous trips has focused on Beachy Head, but the forthcoming location 'Eastbourne' on UK Fossils will focus on the beach before Beachy Head.
A number of shells was collected along with many whole ammonites. Two different species of Echinoid yet to be identified also found. The best two finds of the day came once again at the return back to the car in a sudden torrential rain shower. A complete Nautilus (Roughly 9 Inches) was found just lying on the beach. Then later a large ammonite was found and after a good half hours work in knocking it out, it came out whole. The ammonite was in perfect condition and is roughly just under half a meter in diameter. Next came the painful and miserably hike back to the car carrying a large amount of weight and soaking wet through....but it was worth it!
(Echinoid)
(Ammonite)
(Nautilus)
(Large Ammonite to be Photographed soon)
DAY 4 (16th January): Folkestone
On the final day, a return visit to Folkestone. A few ammonites were collecting along with many shells. A 4 inch uncoiled ammonite also collected. We had limited time at Folkestone as it was on return to base. It has been an excellent few days and some excellent finds made. Now the cleaning process can begin.
