Largest collection of marine fossils ever discovered in UK found using Google Earth

A pair of amateur palaeontologists have helped the Natural History Museum uncover the UK’s biggest-ever rare marine fossil site, using Google Earth. Dr Hollingworth, who is an honorary research associate at the University of Birmingham’s school of geography, earth and environmental science, spoke from the dig to explain how he and his partner “noticed on Google Earth this little quarry and got in touch with the site manager and asked if we could visit”. “We knew instantly that it was an important site because of the quality of preservation, the number of specimens that we could find and that is exceptional.” open image in gallery NHM curators and researchers excavate fossils at the Wiltshire site Describing the initial digging days in early July, Dr Ewin said groups of people spread out across the site and called out whenever they made a new discovery. “It’s a really nice problem to have because these fossil starfish and sea urchins are really rare,” the curator said, adding: “Normally we have the problem, ‘Are we going to find enough?’ This is an alien sort of position to be in where we’ve got so much we’re having to contemplate leaving behind really nice material.” Researchers believe that while some of the fossils belong to creatures already known, three so far could be new discoveries: a type of feather star, a brittle star and a sea cucumber. Praising the “exceptional site”, Dr Ewin added: “It’s going to allow us to do some really cool science.” Déjà vu This is not the first time Google Earth has helped scientists find rare fossils.