OU on the BBC: Fossil Detectives - Scotland

Production team

No area of comparative size in the world has more varied geology than Scotland. Hermione’s Scottish adventure starts in her home town, Edinburgh. It was here, in the 18th century, that James Hutton first developed his theories on the age of the earth. From rock formations in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park, he deduced the earth was far older then anyone had previously imagined.

Nigel Trewin, of Aberdeen University, is a very keen fly fisherman and his favourite spot is the wind swept and isolated Achanarras Quarry. But it’s not just the trout that have been drawing Nigel to this quarry for 30 years. Achanarras boasts the best preserved fossil fish, for their age, found anywhere in the world. But before Hermione can start looking for fossils, Nigel insists on a fishing lesson. All becomes clear when they hook their first trout.

On the Scottish East Coast, near the town of Elgin, Hermione finds herself in another quarry, this time on the trail of strange mammal like reptiles. At Clashach Quarry you can see hundreds of detailed trackways left in the parched desert sands of 250 million years ago. But no one could have ever predicted the other incredible discovery made here. An unassuming block of stone from Clashach was sent to Neil Clark at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. Neil’s team hit on the idea of using modern medical scanning techniques to look deep into the rock. To the team’s amazement, it reveals the perfect skull of a mysterious creature that pre-dated the dinosaurs - a Dicynodont.

As part of her Scottish adventure, Hermione also learns what links fossils and golf on the historic Old Course at St Andrews; reveals the truth about the secrets lurking in the depths of Loch Ness; and finds out how huge oil companies rely on tiny microscopic fossils to search for precious new reserves.

Take it further

Before setting out, check the Scottish Fossil Code

Explore the Geology Toolkit

Watch the My Favourite Fossil videos

Study Fossils and the history of life with the Open University

Sample Reading the rocks and ecology - free learning from OpenLearn

First broadcast: Thursday 21 Aug 2008 on BBC FOUR

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