An ancient mammal tooth has been discovered by a young boy in sand from Lesnes Abbey Woods.
Seven-year-old James uncovered a rare fossil tooth from a 55-million-year-old mammal, Prototomus, during a visit to the Natural History Museum's stand at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.
The ancient tooth was found in sand taken from Lesnes Abbey Woods. The sand was collected by the Tertiary Research Group from the legally protected Abbey Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest during fieldwork granted permission by the Council and Natural England. The fossil is now set to join a prestigious collection at the Natural History Museum in London.
James, from Wareham in Dorset, was taking part in the Museum's interactive fossil-sifting activity at the annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival when he made the discovery. Visitors to the Museum's stand were given the chance to sift through sand taken from Lesnes Abbey Woods. James, alongside his mother and Museum scientists, found an array of shells and other fossils, but it was the unusual tooth that caught their attention.
Lesnes Abbey Woods is famous for its Fossil Pit that has provided important information about early mammals. The site was discovered in the early 1870s by William Whittaker who found shark teeth in the shelly material thrown out by burrowing rabbits. Rabbits no longer inhabit the woods and it is university and museum researchers with experienced volunteers who now excavate here once a year.
Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Richard Diment said:
This is great news for one of our most popular sites in Bexley. We know how Lesnes is renowned for fossil finding and this news just confirms that! We have regular fossil events at the woods along with a number of amazing activities throughout summer. Yet another reason to pay a visit to one of our great parks.”
Dr. Neil Adams, Curator of Fossil Mammals at the Natural History Museum, identified the find as a rare fossil tooth from Prototomus. The tooth has since been donated to the Museum, enriching its collection of early mammalian fossils.
The Prototomus, a weasel-like carnivore that predates modern meat-eaters, offers valuable insights into the early days of mammalian evolution. The molar could shed light on the last days of this ancient mammal.
Find out more about all the activities taking place at Lesnes Abbey Woods including Fossil Hunting.