Seaside Stories: The History of the Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast: A History

The Jurassic Coast is just over 150 kilometres long, but contains a rich tapestry of history dating back 185 million years to the Mesozoic Era. Located between East Devon to Dorset in England, the name comes from the exposed geography showing off rock formations from the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods. Fossil collector Mary Anning discovered countless different marine reptiles and other fossils, helping the then-niche field of palaeontology explode in popularity. The site was placed on the World Heritage list in 2001, and continues to be a popular attraction for tourists to visit.

In this episode we'll be taking a step back in time and exploring the immensely interesting history of the site and what humanity has discovered and learned from the findings there. We'll also look at the geography of the Jurassic Coast and what can be found in the nearby towns and settlements. We're also going to discuss the many different species throughout the millennia that have called the Coast home and whose fossils have told us so much about the Earth's magnificent past.

Further Reading:
https://www.dorsets.co.uk/jurassic_coast.htm
https://www.jurassiccoast.org
https://www.jurassiccoast.org/science-and-heritage
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1029/
https://cleanjurassiccoast.uk/about/jurassic-coast-history/
https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/jurassic-coast
https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-mesozoic-masterpiece-englands-jurassic-coast/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-to-jurassic-coast

Presented By:
Jack Becker

Written By:
Kayla Strickland

Produced, Edited, and Mixed By:
Ash Taylor
Ben Lewis

Music Used:
"On the Shore" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode was produced on Anaiwan land, and we acknowledge that this land was never ceded. We recognise and respect the ongoing culture and community of the Anaiwan people, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including Elders past, present, and emerging.