Fossil Ammonite Bed Lower Lias Jurassic Coast Dorset UK Black Ven: Charmouth Lyme Regis Black Ven Marls

Description

Genuine Jurassic Ammonite Bed from Black Ven, Dorset

This is an authentic Fossil Ammonite Bed collected from the famous Black Ven Marls of the Lower Lias, part of the iconic Jurassic Coast at Black Ven, Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. This coastline is globally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most important fossil localities on Earth, renowned for its continuous Lower Jurassic exposures and exceptional fossil content.

The specimen offered is the exact fossil shown in the photographs and has been carefully selected for its scientific interest, clarity of preservation, and visual appeal. All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Full sizing information is provided within the listing images to ensure complete confidence when purchasing.

Fossil Type and Palaeontological Significance

This piece represents a natural ammonite accumulation bed, preserving multiple ammonite remains within their original sedimentary context. Such beds are highly valued because they capture a snapshot of ancient marine life rather than a single isolated organism. The ammonites present belong to the extinct cephalopod order Ammonitida, a group that dominated Jurassic seas and is fundamental to understanding marine evolution and stratigraphy.

Ammonite beds from Black Ven are particularly important due to their role in defining and correlating Lower Lias biozones, which are used internationally to date Early Jurassic rocks. These fossils are closely associated with the pioneering work of early palaeontologists such as Mary Anning, whose discoveries along this coastline laid the foundations of modern palaeontology.

Geological Setting: Black Ven Marls

The Black Ven Marls were deposited during the Early Jurassic, Lower Lias, approximately 200–190 million years ago. At that time, southern Britain was submerged beneath a shallow, warm epicontinental sea. Fine-grained muds and marls settled on the seabed, periodically interrupted by storm events and biological die-offs that led to the accumulation of ammonite shells in discrete horizons.

These marls are characteristically dark, reflecting high organic content and low-oxygen bottom waters. Such conditions slowed decay and scavenging, allowing shells to remain intact long enough to be buried and fossilised. Over time, compaction and mineralisation preserved the ammonites as part of the rock matrix, creating the fossil beds seen today.

Morphology and Preservation

Within this ammonite bed, individual shells typically show planispiral coiling, ribbed whorls, and varying sizes representing different growth stages. Some shells may be partial or compressed, a natural result of burial and sediment loading, while others retain clear ribbing and whorl definition. The matrix itself provides valuable geological context, making this specimen both a fossil and a sedimentary record.

This type of preservation offers insight into population structure, mortality events, and seabed conditions during the Early Jurassic. For collectors and educators alike, ammonite beds are especially prized because they demonstrate how fossils occur in nature rather than as isolated display pieces.

Collectability, Display, and Educational Value

A fossil ammonite bed from Black Ven is an excellent addition to any serious fossil collection, teaching collection, or natural history display. Its provenance from one of the world’s most famous fossil sites, combined with its intact geological context, makes it both scientifically meaningful and visually compelling.

You will receive the exact specimen shown, responsibly sourced from a classic British locality and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its legitimacy, origin, and geological significance.