Introduction

In April 2022 I received a very interesting email letting me know about a site of Palaeontological interest recently discovered in the Stroud District. The initial contact was just to let me know about the existence of the site, but things developed quickly from there and before I knew it I was informed that there was going to be an excavation, and asked firstly if the museum would be able to house any finds and secondly if I’d like to take part. Wow! I’ve never been involved in this sort of thing before, but I was sent a couple of pictures of fossils already found at the site and I was hooked (if you’ll forgive the pun!).

Jump forward to late July and I had secured for a pot of funding to support the cost of a JCB and cover the expenses for some of Britain’s foremost palaeontologists to take part, purchased a pair of safety goggles, and been very cryptic with a very small number of colleagues about what was about to take place.

This project wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of the Geologists’ Association Curry Fund who helped to finance the excavation phase. All members of the excavation team are also indebted to Adam, the farmer, for allowing us access to his land, and to Pennie and Dave at the Boho Bakery for keeping us caffeinated and hydrated throughout the dig!

Photo shows the excavation site (c) Steven Dey

Blog by Alexia Clark, Documentation & Collections Officer