OU on the BBC: Fossil Detectives - South of England

Production team

The Fossil Detectives’ South Coast adventure starts with a personal quest for Hermione. Hermione grew up in the sleepy Sussex village of Cuckfield. Growing up, she was used to the idea that dinosaurs had once roamed the land there. It was years later that she discovered the scientific and historic importance of a dinosaur bone found on the edge of her village – and in this programme will find out more about the extraordinary dinosaur called iguanodon.

The Isle of Wight is often referred to as Dinosaur Island and for very good reason. More dinosaurs have been found on the Island than anywhere else in Britain – and it’s considered to be one of the best places in the world to go dinosaur hunting. Fossil Detectives have gained exclusive access to a dinosaur excavation taking place right now. But it’s not for the faint hearted, situated halfway down an imposing cliff - Hermione will have to abseil down to the site. But it’s a once in a life time opportunity to excavate her very own dinosaur bones straight from the cliff.

From the Isle of Wight, Hermione travels west to meet up with song writing icon and campaigner Billy Bragg and his son Jack. Their home overlooks the fossil rich beaches of Britain’s Jurassic Coast, so it’s no wonder that since moving to the seaside, Billy and Jack have become fascinated with fossils. Hermione joins them on the beach to gain a little local knowledge. Along the South Coast we’ll also learn what geo-thrillology is; go for a walk through time and stumble across some boulder sized dinosaur footprints.

Take it further

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

Fossil Detectives in more depth: