A landslide that hit Dorset beach in England has lead to dozens of fossil hunters flocking to the area in search of ancient relics, according to The Telegraph. Approximately 200 people could be seen combing the Carmouth village beach – which is located on the Jurassic Coast – collecting as many ammonite fossils as they could find. Sources say that around 320-feet worth of cliff fell down one week before Christmas and the hunters are steadily increasing as word is spread.
Many of the fossils collected are believed to be ammonites, which are extinct sea molluscs that are sought out for the intricate spiral designs on their shells that range from 2 cm to 2 ft in length and originate in the mud and shale beside the sea. Most of the sea molluscs range from a fraction of an inch to five or six inches.
"We've been here about 20 years and we have not seen anything on this scale before," said Tony Gill, who runs Charmouth Fossil Shop. "Everyone is managing to find one. It's the biggest fall I've seen down here for years, if not the biggest. But finding a big fossil is like one in a thousand."
Gill claims that the landslide was so massive that it will take years before the larger pieces of mud and shale are eroded by the seas, meaning there will likely be a steady supply of fossils continuing to make their way to Dorset beach, according to the Daily Mail.
Fossil hunters should take note of the dangers of fossil hunting hear the cliffs - appropriate footwear is necessary and climbing the cliff is not recommended due to its instability.
"With recent significant rainfall, some cliffs and cliff edges have become crumbly and unstable," said Joanne Groenenberg from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Boulders the size of cars currently litter the beach and the landslide has been connected to a combination of wet weather and extremely high tides, according to ITV News. Despite warnings of unstable cliffs, many treasure hunters continue to scour the cliff sides for treasure.
