Giant ichthyosaur fossil found on the dinosaur coast. Giant Ichthyosaur Fossil Found on the Dinosaur Coast. The outcrops of Blue Lias, a sedimentary rock from the Jurassic period, is extremely unstable, especially where it meets the erosive force of the sea and bad weather.
Landslips are a regular occurrence, erosion is continuous.
This causes headaches for landowners and coastal defense departments. With this constant erosion, geologists and fossil hunters are regularly rewarded with new and exciting finds. The first lady to take a scientific interest was Mary Anning, born in Lyme Regis in 1799. At the tender age of 10 years, she and her brother Joseph found the first recorded ichthyosaur fossil, her 18ft specimen became world famous. Mr. Tony Gill has recently found a massive 40ft specimen, the biggest ever found.