Faringdon Sponge Fossil Lower Cretaceous Faringdon Oxfordshire UK Genuine Marine Specimen with Certificate of Authenticity

Genuine Lower Cretaceous Sponge Fossil from Historic Faringdon, Oxfordshire

Presented here is a genuine Faringdon Sponge Fossil, a remarkable marine specimen preserved from the Lower Cretaceous Period and collected from the famous fossil-bearing beds of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, England.

Faringdon is one of the most historically significant fossil localities in the UK, renowned for its rich deposits of Cretaceous marine life. This fossil represents an ancient sponge that once lived on the floor of a warm prehistoric sea more than 100 million years ago.

This is a carefully chosen specimen, and the photograph in the listing shows the exact fossil you will receive. Full sizing details are provided in the images.

A Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card is included, confirming this fossil as a genuine geological and palaeontological specimen.

---

Fossil Type – Ancient Marine Sponge Preservation

Sponges are among the earliest and most enduring forms of animal life on Earth. Fossil sponges such as this one provide extraordinary insight into the ancient ecosystems of the Cretaceous seas.

Unlike modern soft-bodied sponges, many prehistoric varieties developed more rigid skeletal frameworks, enabling them to fossilise beautifully. Faringdon sponges are especially valued because of their distinctive structure and their association with a famous British fossil site.

Common traits seen in sponge fossils include:

• Porous body texture formed by water-filtering canals

• Strong skeletal preservation

• Natural mineral replacement creating durable fossil form

This fossil is an authentic remnant of an ancient filter-feeding organism that once supported thriving marine biodiversity.

---

Geological Setting – Lower Cretaceous Seas of Southern Britain

This sponge fossil originates from the Lower Cretaceous, a time when much of southern England was submerged beneath a shallow tropical sea.

The Faringdon deposits are well known for preserving marine organisms that lived in clear, warm waters, where carbonate sediments and shell debris accumulated on the seabed. These conditions created an ideal environment for fossilisation and for preserving sponge-rich communities.

Faringdon fossils are often associated with:

• Sponges

• Brachiopods

• Bivalves and echinoids

• Other reef-like marine assemblages

This makes the locality a key reference point for British Lower Cretaceous marine palaeontology.

---

Depositional Environment & Fossil Formation

The fossil formed in a marine setting where sponges lived attached to the seafloor, filtering nutrients from seawater. After death, the skeletal structure became buried by sediment. Over millions of years, minerals slowly replaced the original biological material, turning the sponge into a permanent stone fossil.

The result is a naturally preserved specimen with strong texture and geological character, ideal for collectors and displays.

---

Perfect for Fossil Collectors, Education, and Natural History Displays

This genuine Faringdon Sponge Fossil is an excellent addition to:

• British fossil collections

• Lower Cretaceous marine displays

• Educational teaching resources

• Gifts for geology and palaeontology enthusiasts

Because sponges are foundational organisms in marine ecosystems, this specimen represents an important piece of Earth’s biological history.

---

Authenticity & Buyer Confidence

• Genuine fossil sponge specimen

• Lower Cretaceous, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK

• Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card

• Photo shows the exact fossil you will receive

• Carefully selected collectible piece

Own a real and scientifically fascinating relic of the ancient Cretaceous seas with this beautiful and historic Faringdon Sponge Fossil from one of the UK’s most famous fossil sites.