Fossil discovery on landslip-hit Isle of Wight road

Geologists have stumbled upon the extraordinary discovery during the work on the landslip-threatened Leeson Road in Bonchurch.

As engineers drilled deep into the ground, boreholes as much as 130 metres below the surface unearthed fossilised remains of creatures that once thrived in a prehistoric sea.

Fossils found at landslip-threatened Leeson Road (Image: Island Roads) Sophie Powell, an engineering geologist with AtkinsRéalis, explained that the fossils discovered in the upper greensand and gault clay layers date back to the Lower Cretaceous Period, some 100 to 112 million years ago. 

“We have found a mixture of bivalves, brachiopods and ammonites,” Sophie said.

“When a fossil is well preserved, it is possible to identify the scientific name of the fossil, we have managed this for a few.

“What we have found so far matches previous investigations in the area.”

Fossils found at landslip-threatened Leeson Road (Image: Island Roads) Among the most exciting finds are the spiral-shaped ammonites, ancient relatives of squids and octopuses, which ruled the oceans millions of years ago.

But these fossils aren’t just curiosities from a bygone era - they also act as markers, revealing key insights about the rock layers beneath the surface and helping the team monitor for potential ground shifts that could lead to further landslides. 

Core samples taken during the drilling will allow geotechnical engineers to analyse how the land has changed and provide crucial data to prevent future disasters.

The boreholes are understood to be some of the deepest ever sunk on the Island.