Fossil Forest, Dorset

On this ledge are some ring-shaped structures up to 2 metres across. These are moulds of gymnosperms (early coniferous trees) which died after being encased in sediment. Most of the trees were upright leaving round holes, but some had fallen leaving elongate coffin-shaped moulds.

The Fossil Forest is the remains of an ancient submerged forest from Jurassic times, located to the east of Lulworth Cove on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England.[1] It lies on the Jurassic Coast, on a wide ledge in the seaside cliff. The site is within the Lulworth Ranges and thus has restricted access. Parts of forest can also be seen on the Isle of Portland and in quarries near the town of Weymouth to the west.[2]

  1. ^ Ian West, Geology of the Purbeck Fossil Forest, Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England.
  2. ^ The Fossil Forest: Range Walks, Jurassic Coast Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine.