The Spittles

--Sterwick (talk) 17:20, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

The Spittles are a type of cliff on the [[[assic coast world heratige sitein Dorset, a southern county in England. They contain Blue Lias rocks where a number of fossils have been found, incuding fossilised fish that the whole of lyme Bay is famous for.

The whole of Dorset, including Lyme Bay that the Spittles are found in, became declared a world heratige site in 2001. Mary Anning found her Icthyosaurus in the Spittles; and past the Spittles is her famous Church cliffs site.

The Spittles has a layer of rocks called Blue Lias, where a rich variety of fossils can be found, including the famous fossilised fish. The cliffs between Charmouth and Lyme Regis (Black Ven and Spittles) contain cliffs of lower (early) Jurassic. A few miles west hences the start of Devon, and the red-coloured Triassic cliffs.

The whole of the Lyme Bay area is located in West Dorset, and some areas round the border between Devon and Dorset (such as Lyme Regis). The exact geographical location of the Spittles is between Charmouth and Lyme Regis, closer to Lyme Regis. The cliffs can be seen from the sea defences.

The concentration of fossils in the area are unique, and so attract lots of tourists. A number of tourist facilities are in Lyme Regis, including fossil shops, large car parks, and a number of other tourist facilities, lots reflected upon fossil hunting.

Clarke, Nigel J. (2004) Lyme Bay Fossils: Jurassic Beach Guide. Nigel J. Clarke Publications. ISBN 9780907683018

Lyme bay fossil site: fossiling guide Geology of Dorset: wikipedia Mary Anning: wikipedia Lyme Regis: wikipedia Charmouth's tourist industry