We meet the Peterborough paleontologist who found a rare 99-million-year-old fossil on Hunstanton Beach
Parapuzosia ammonites are among the largest known ammonite species
A Peterborough paleontologist who discovered a rare 99-million-year-old ammonite on Norfolk’s Hunstanton Beach has described the moment he found it as “amazing”.
Jamie Jordan, who runs the Fossils Galore museum in March alongside his partner Sarah, made the extraordinary discovery during one of its organised fossil hunting trips to Hunstanton on Sunday, May 3.
After cracking open a large piece of rock, Jamie was staggered to find the fossilised remains of a giant ammonite, belonging to the species Parapuzosia.
The species dates back approximately 99 million years to the Cretaceous Period, a time when dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops walked the earth.
Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph about his incredible find, Jamie said: “I was pretty amazed by it and quite surprised, because when we’re out fossil hunting we look for those cracks in the rock to split.
“You may find something or may not, so it was very exciting when I came across it.”
Parapuzosia ammonites are among the largest known ammonite species, with the largest examples ever found in Germany reaching an astonishing 1.8 metres in diameter.
As part of his work with Fossils Galore, Jamie regularly runs sold-out fossil hunting trips to the North Norfolk coast where families learn how to look for fossils safely and sustainably.
“It’s not every day you come across the larger ammonites, normally you’ve got to wait for a big cliff fall and the right layers to come down to be able to find them,” Jamie, originally from Peterborough, added.
“Usually you find the smaller ammonites, which are much more common. Something of this size is much more uncommon.”
Based in High Street, March, Fossils Galore is home to thousands of prehistoric artefacts, including mammoth tusks and teeth.
The ammonite is now being carefully prepared and conserved by the Fossils Galore team for permanent display in the museum.
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