Fossil Hunts
Join in one of our popular Fossil Hunts to learn more about the rich geology of this area, and the unique fossil hunting opportunities.
With over 50 years of quarrying in this area, and 2 million tonnes of gravel extracted every year, there is plenty of scope for digging up the past. From Iron age to Ice age, there have been some exciting finds, including the renowned woolly mammoth skull, one of only two ever found in the UK. Even further back, this area was once a warm shallow tropical sea, so remains of marine reptiles such as plesiosaur
and ichthyosaur can be found.
The Cotswold Water Park Society works closely with the local mineral operators to provide organised and safe fossil hunts into some of the local quarries. With experts on hand to help identify finds, people with an interest in the past can look for fabulous fossils and awesome ammonites, and learn more about this ever changing landscape.
Fossil Hunts
About 4-6 times a year, the CWP Society organises Fossil Hunts for its members and the general public. These take place at a weekend, last approximately 3-4 hours, and take place at various quarries, depending on the current excavations, water levels and permissions at the time.
Quarries can be extremely dangerous places and we do make sure that all measures are taken to ensure the safety of participants, but it is up to the individuals to make sure they are aware of all the risks and take all necessary precautions. We require fossil hunters to wear Hi Vis jackets or vests ( these can be provided), wellington boots if possible, and eye protection especially for children.
To register for a future fossil hunt please email events@waterpark.org, and your name will be added to the waiting list. Once a date has been announced everyone on the list will be sent an email and it is a case of first come first served.
The cost of a Fossil Hunt is currently £7.50 for adults / £4 for children
Please note :
No children under the age of 5
No Dogs
All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you have any questions please email Jill Bewley, Events and Education Officer on events@waterpark.org
Read about Emelia's amazing Fossil Find!
Geology of the Cotswold Water Park
The gravel deposits in this area were laid down by a major river system between 350,000 and 45,000 years ago. The underlying beds mainly comprise sand, limestone and clay known as the Cornbrash, Kellaways Beds and Oxford Clay which were deposited during the Jurassic period of geologic time between 175 and 155 million years ago.
Rock debris probably accumulated on the Cotswold hills to the North in winter by freeze-thaw action on the local bedrock and formed liquid mud slides on the frozen subsoil in spring and early summer. During the short warm summers the tributary streams, swollen by snow and ice melt became huge muddy torrents capable of transporting rock debris a long way down into the main valley and abrading it in the process. These were deposited as gravel spreads on the Thames Valley floor.
Digging deep
The gravel lies nearest the surface, between 1m - 10m deep, within which can be found the Ice Age remains of woolly mammoth, rhino, deer and bison. It is not uncommon in these layers to find mammoth remains, such as teeth, which look like grooved pieces of rock, parts of tusk and bones. Below the gravels, in the Oxford Clays remains of marine reptiles and various sea creatures such as ammonites, belemnites, gastropods can be found, although they are often trapped in nodules of clay which require some hefty hammering.
