Dinosaur Fossils Hastings Coast: Remarkable Finds

Yes, remarkable dinosaur fossils have been found on the Hastings coast, most notably at Bexhill and Fairlight Cliffs, including the oldest known dinosaur remains in England. These fossils, primarily from the Early Cretaceous period (about 140 million years ago), include teeth, bones, footprints, and even a previously unknown species of small plant-eating dinosaur.

Formula

The calculator above works out average speed from a known time and distance. The formula is simply:

Speed = Distance ÷ Time

Where:

• Distance is in kilometres (km)
• Time is in hours (h)
• Speed is in kilometres per hour (km/h)

This is the same formula used for any average speed calculation, whether you are driving, running, or comparing fossil excavation rates.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: you walk 5 km in 1 hour.

Speed = 5 km ÷ 1 h = 5.00 km/h

This matches the calculator output. If you ran 10 km in 0.5 hours, the speed would be 10 ÷ 0.5 = 20 km/h.

Background: The Hastings Coast Fossil Beds

The Hastings coast, part of the Wealden Group of rocks, is one of the most important dinosaur fossil sites in the UK. The cliffs between Hastings and Bexhill expose layers of sandstones, mudstones, and clays that were deposited in a floodplain environment during the Early Cretaceous. This was a time when dinosaurs were diversifying rapidly, and the area was a subtropical landscape with rivers and lakes.

Fossil hunters have been finding dinosaur remains here since the 19th century, but major discoveries in the 21st century have put the site firmly on the map. In 2013, a new species of small herbivorous dinosaur, Brighstoneus (though found on the Isle of Wight, it is related to Wealden finds), was named from similar aged rocks. More directly, in 2014, a team from the University of Portsmouth announced the discovery of Hypsilophodon and other dinosaur bones at Bexhill, including a large carnivore tooth.

What Has Been Found

The most remarkable finds on the Hastings coast include:

• Iguanodon bones and footprints – This large herbivore is the most common dinosaur fossil in the area, with both skeletal remains and trackways found.
• Megalosaurus teeth – These serrated teeth belong to a large theropod, one of the first dinosaurs ever named scientifically.
• Small ornithopod remains – Including Hypsilophodon-like fossils, which were agile bipedal herbivores.
• Pterosaur bones – Not dinosaurs, but flying reptiles that lived alongside them, occasionally found in the same layers.
• Dinosaur footprints – Preserved trackways that show how these animals moved and interacted.

One particularly notable find was a 140-million-year-old footprint of a large sauropod, discovered by a local fossil hunter in 2014. The print was over a metre wide and is now on display at the Bexhill Museum.

How to See the Fossils

You can see dinosaur fossils from the Hastings coast at several museums:

• Bexhill Museum – Has a dedicated dinosaur gallery with local finds, including the sauropod footprint.
• Hastings Museum and Art Gallery – Displays some local fossils and has a geology collection.
• Natural History Museum, London – Holds some historic specimens collected from the area in the 19th century.

If you want to look for fossils yourself, you can walk along the beach at low tide and examine the fallen rocks at the base of the cliffs. However, you must follow the Fossil Code: only collect loose material, do not hammer the cliffs, and report any significant finds to a museum.

Common Problems and Safety

Fossil hunting on the Hastings coast is not without risks. The cliffs are unstable and can collapse without warning. It is essential to stay away from the cliff face and never climb on the rock. Also, the tide can come in quickly, cutting off your return route. Always check tide times and carry a mobile phone.

Another common problem is misidentifying rocks. Many stones look like bone but are just flint or ironstone. A simple test is to lick the rock – bone often sticks to your tongue because it is porous, but this is not foolproof. If you are unsure, ask a local expert.

Comparisons with Other UK Dinosaur Sites

The Hastings coast is often compared to the Isle of Wight, which is also famous for Early Cretaceous dinosaurs. The Isle of Wight has produced more complete skeletons, including Iguanodon and Neovenator, while Hastings has yielded mostly disarticulated bones and footprints. However, Hastings is unique because it is one of the few places in the UK where you can find dinosaur fossils directly in the cliffs without needing to dig.

Another comparison is with the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, which is older (Jurassic period) and contains marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs, but few dinosaurs. Hastings is specifically a dinosaur site, making it a favourite for enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any complete dinosaur skeletons found on the Hastings coast?

No complete skeleton has been found to date. The fossils are mostly isolated bones, teeth, and footprints. This is because the environment was a floodplain where carcasses were often scavenged and scattered before burial.

Can I take fossils home from Hastings beach?

You can collect small loose fossils for personal use, but you cannot dig into the cliff or remove large specimens. Any significant scientific find should be reported to a museum. The same rules apply across the UK under the fossil collecting code.

What is the oldest dinosaur fossil found on the Hastings coast?

The oldest confirmed dinosaur fossil from the Hastings coast is a tooth from a theropod, dated to around 140 million years ago. This is from the Berriasian stage of the Early Cretaceous, making it one of the oldest dinosaur remains in England.

Why are the fossils only found in certain layers?

Fossils are concentrated in specific horizons where conditions allowed preservation. For example, some layers are ancient river channels where bones were quickly buried by sand, while others are floodplain muds that preserve footprints. The Ashdown Beds and Wadhurst Clay are the most fossiliferous.

Do I need a permit to search for fossils?

No permit is needed for casual beachcombing, but if you want to dig or use heavy tools, you should contact the local museum or the Wealden District Council. In general, hammering the cliffs is prohibited because it is dangerous and damages the geology.

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in t | Time | hours | 1 | 0 | 100000
in d | Distance | km | 5 | 0 | 100000
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / t | 2