Kimmeridge. A unique relationship to the Late Jurassic
The Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site, is internationally renowned for the abundance of fossils on its shores. Along this famous coastline, lies the Dorset village of Kimmeridge which has given its name to the clay formation that contains a unique range of fossils from the late Jurassic period.
The Jurassic Coast covers a distance of 95 miles with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth’s history.
Kimmeridge is at the heart of this significant location and has the greatest succession of Kimmeridgian rocks exposed in the world. World Heritage status was given to this site due to the quality of its varied geology and resulting palaeontology spanning the entire Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Amazing stories can be found in the cliffs and rocks and out beneath the seas in the Kimmeridgian shale of sediments and clays that were formed 150 million years ago. A prehistoric time when pterosaurs, big and small flying reptiles ruled the skies and the first feathered birds began to appear. On land, giant plant eating sauropods populated the terrain, grazing on the many species of tropical ferns and early conifers.
One man's passion
It was long thought that the local Kimmeridgian clays had little to yield by way of evidence via well-preserved fossils. A belief that was changed by the amazing discoveries of Steve Etches, local to Kimmeridge, fossil collector and expert who over the last 30 years, has discovered, collected and researched over 2000 incredible late Jurassic Kimmeridgian specimens.
An achievement that has resulted in a collection of the most extensive and finest fossil specimens ever found in the Kimmeridgian Clay Formation.
The Etches Collection is the result of one man’s passion. Over 30 years of discovery and diligent research, dogged determination not just to find and collect specimens, but also to bring to life the amazing stories of the creatures that existed in the Kimmeridgian age.
A brand new immersive museum
The Etches Collection is a new and unique experience that takes you back to a time before humans existed, before our planet was formed as we know it today and a time when parts of Dorset were under the sea.
This is an amazing world from around 150 million years ago, which is so long ago, that we call it 'Deep Time'.
Visit the Exhibition Gallery and experience a laboratory of the senses as you are taken on an immersive journey through life underwater the tropical seas of Kimmeridge 150 million years ago, surrounded by wonderful, if not weird creatures, some of which have long vanished from the face of our Earth.
Directly beneath the aquarium ceiling, The Etches Collection is showcased in illuminated cabinets, the fossil specimens that are the evidence of the stories of that deep time, bringing to the fore what is being shown above in the underwater world.
The end of an age brought to life then death.
Each fossil specimen is carefully presented and interpreted to bring to life their individual stories. Visitors will leave the museum recognising that the fossils are tangible evidence of living beings and that there are a wealth of untold stories to explore and discover as well as a lot to be learnt from this former life on earth.
Welcome to 'The Etches Collection'
Welcome to 'The Etches Collection'
Kimmeridge. A unique relationship to the Late Jurassic
The Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site, is internationally renowned for the abundance of fossils on its shores. Along this famous coastline, lies the Dorset village of Kimmeridge which has given its name to the clay formation that contains a unique range of fossils from the late Jurassic period.
The Jurassic Coast covers a distance of 95 miles with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth’s history.
Kimmeridge is at the heart of this significant location and has the greatest succession of Kimmeridgian rocks exposed in the world. World Heritage status was given to this site due to the quality of its varied geology and resulting palaeontology spanning the entire Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Amazing stories can be found in the cliffs and rocks and out beneath the seas in the Kimmeridgian shale of sediments and clays that were formed 150 million years ago. A prehistoric time when pterosaurs, big and small flying reptiles ruled the skies and the first feathered birds began to appear. On land, giant plant eating sauropods populated the terrain, grazing on the many species of tropical ferns and early conifers.
One man's passion
It was long thought that the local Kimmeridgian clays had little to yield by way of evidence via well-preserved fossils. A belief that was changed by the amazing discoveries of Steve Etches, local to Kimmeridge, fossil collector and expert who over the last 30 years, has discovered, collected and researched over 2000 incredible late Jurassic Kimmeridgian specimens.
An achievement that has resulted in a collection of the most extensive and finest fossil specimens ever found in the Kimmeridgian Clay Formation.
The Etches Collection is the result of one man’s passion. Over 30 years of discovery and diligent research, dogged determination not just to find and collect specimens, but also to bring to life the amazing stories of the creatures that existed in the Kimmeridgian age.
A brand new immersive museum
The Etches Collection is a new and unique experience that takes you back to a time before humans existed, before our planet was formed as we know it today and a time when parts of Dorset were under the sea.
This is an amazing world from around 150 million years ago, which is so long ago, that we call it 'Deep Time'.
Visit the Exhibition Gallery and experience a laboratory of the senses as you are taken on an immersive journey through life underwater the tropical seas of Kimmeridge 150 million years ago, surrounded by wonderful, if not weird creatures, some of which have long vanished from the face of our Earth.
Directly beneath the aquarium ceiling, The Etches Collection is showcased in illuminated cabinets, the fossil specimens that are the evidence of the stories of that deep time, bringing to the fore what is being shown above in the underwater world.
The end of an age brought to life then death.
Each fossil specimen is carefully presented and interpreted to bring to life their individual stories. Visitors will leave the museum recognising that the fossils are tangible evidence of living beings and that there are a wealth of untold stories to explore and discover as well as a lot to be learnt from this former life on earth.
