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Dorset and East Devon Coast

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Date of Inscription: 2001
Criteria: (viii)
Core zone: 2550 ha
Dorset and East Devon, England
N50 42 20 W2 59 23.6
Ref: 1029

Brief Description

The cliff exposures along the Dorset and East Devon coast provide an almost continuous sequence of rock formations spanning the Mesozoic Era, or some 185 million years of the earth's history. The area's important fossil sites and classic coastal geomorphologic features have contributed to the study of earth sciences for over 300 years.

Justification for Inscription

Criterion (viii): The coastal exposures within the site provide an almost continuous sequence of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous rock formations spanning the Mesozoic Era and document approximately 185 million years of Earth history. The site includes a range of internationally important fossil localities – both vertebrate and invertebrate, marine and terrestrial - which have produced well preserved and diverse evidence of life during Mesozoic times.

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