Dundry Main Road South Quarry, Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset, England
Dundry Main Road South Quarry is a protected natural site in Somerset, England, known for its rock layers and fossils. The rocks belong to the Inferior Oolite formation and contain the remains of marine creatures from the Jurassic period, roughly 160 million years ago.
The quarry was officially designated as a natural site in 1974 after scientists recognized the significance of its rock layers. In the 19th century, researcher d'Orbigny helped document and interpret the fossils and rocks at Dundry.
The quarry takes its name from the main road at Dundry under which these layers lie. Today, visitors come to observe the fossilized shells and other marine creatures visible in the rocks and to connect with the story of ancient sea life preserved here.
Visitors should wear comfortable clothing and watch for rough edges and uneven ground. Collecting fossils or rocks requires permission, but observing and photographing the exposed rocks and visible fossils is permitted.
Fossils at Dundry come from two distinct marine environments with different animal communities, revealing how landmasses shifted roughly 160 million years ago. Over 200 species of shells and other marine animals have been found here, making this one of the most fossil-rich sites in the world.
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