Fossil Collecting In Hastings

Collecting fossils in Hastings is a fun activity that can bring great opportunities for those who can find something worthwhile. Whether you are doing it to just collect souvenirs or if you are there to conduct real scientific research, it is always a good idea to know the rules of conduct while in the Hastings area.

Before visiting the site, visitors are obliged to do their research beforehand and determine the purpose of the visit. People going there are expected to bring the necessary tools and protective equipment. Digging the bedrock is forbidden, however. The exception here are the rocks that are already on the shore and are not physically attached to the bedrock, collectors can use tools to break them apart.

While break rocks yield the highest chance for a jackpot, there are also fossils scattered about on the scree slopes and foreshore so visitors are not expected to bring hammers and chisels to the site.

If it is your first time going on an expedition like this and you don’t know where to start or specifically what tools to bring, you can purchase geological tools online in starter packs. These should be more than enough to get you started. These starter packs include hammers, helmets, chisels, measuring tape, and labeling kits.

Finding the Sweet Spot – What Items Can be Collected from the Site?

The site is a host to a variety of interesting items, dinosaur bone fragments, fossilized plant matter, and teeth which are the most common. The best times are usually after heavy rain as many of the clay that covers the fossils are washed off and many bits of fossils are just hanging out to be picked up. Now if you also have a camera you can stumble upon fossilized footprints of ancient creatures if you are lucky, these are rare but it’s worth that shot.

There are online forums out there that showcase what others have found if you want to get a clear idea of what to expect from the site. It is also a good way to whet your appetite if you are excited to do some fossil hunting.

Safety at the Site

When exploring the area, it is important to monitor the tides as and even before that visitors should check the tide levels. Since the area is also close to a cliffside, debris can fall from above. Bring and wear the necessary gear such as a hard hat just to make sure to get yourself some basic protection. Also, visitors are advised to stay away from the cliff base. If hammering rocks, the vibration can cause disturbance and trigger debris fall.

Conclusion Whether you are a budding scientist, biology student, or just the average Joe or Jane, collecting fossils is a really fun activity with many opportunities to learn even if you are just doing this as a collector. You can also bond with the other fossil hunters out there and make new friends and build up your social group and get excited when someone finds something truly unique. So don’t miss out on this simple yet rewarding activity when you get the chance.

Useful Resources:

discoveringfossils.co.uk

ukfossils.co.uk

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