Southerham Machine Bottom Pit

Southerham Machine Bottom Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationEast Sussex
Grid referenceTQ 432 090[1]
InterestGeological
Area1.8 hectares (4.4 acres)[1]
Notification1999[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Southerham Machine Bottom Pit is a 1.8-hectare (4.4-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Lewes in the East Sussex.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3]

This site is historically significant for the number and quality of fossils of Cretaceous fish found by nineteenth century scholars such as Gideon Mantell. These fossils are particularly important for helping to understand the early evolution of fish groups such as the teleosts.[4]

The site is private land with no public access.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Southerham Machine Bottom Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Map of Southerham Machine Bottom Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Southerham (Machine Bottom Pit)" (PDF). Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Southerham Machine Bottom Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

50°51′47″N 0°01′59″E / 50.863°N 0.033°E / 50.863; 0.033