A woman from Solihull has shared the story of an extraordinary find during a trip to a UK beach. Heather Salt initially believed she had picked up a piece of wood with protruding nails when she noticed the peculiar object on the shoreline. However, the amateur fossil hunter had actually uncovered a prehistoric relic dating back more than 200 million years.
The Discovery on the Jurassic Coast
Heather made the remarkable discovery along the famous Jurassic Coast, near Charmouth. She had traveled there hoping to add a new item to her collection but never expected to stumble upon such a historic treasure. The fossil was later confirmed by experts to be linked to the so-called Charmouth Crocodile, part of the Turnersuchus hingleyae species. It is a section of the creature's upper jawbone and is incredibly rare, with only 11 fossils from this species ever found.
About the Ancient Reptile
The ancient reptile is believed to have been a slender predator, growing to about two meters in length with a thin snout ideal for catching fish. It would have spent most of its life in the water, only coming ashore to lay and protect its eggs. The fossil, first identified in 2017, is now on display at the Lyme Regis Museum after its true significance was revealed.
Guided Fossil Walk Leads to Find
Heather had been participating in a guided fossil walk organized by the museum when she made the discovery. Guide Casey Rich commented: "This is exactly why I love my role as a field palaeontologist and fossil walk guide. By teaching the basics, we give people the chance to make their own discoveries, and sometimes that leads to finds that are not only exciting, but important to science. Moments like this will remain with me forever."
