Palaeontology in the Field: Wardie Shore

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Students should have a level of fitness that will allow them to undertake three hours walking on a flat shoreline that may be slippery.

Special Information

Notebook

Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for a walk in Scottish weather and for exploring the shoreline.

Content of Course

On location – Wardie Shore, Edinburgh.

We will visit Wardie Shore in the north of the city of Edinburgh. This location offers the opportunity to find plant and fish fossils, microfossils and coprolites (fossilised fish poo!).

Students will be expected to make their own way to Wardie Shore.

Public transport:

Lothian buses number 47 and disembark at Granton Square or the number 16 and disembark at Lower Granton Road. Always check travel routes before travelling.

You will learn how to plan a successful fossil hunting trip, how to find fossils and how to record your finds properly using a Field Notebook. You will also learn how to package and transport your finds for correct labelling back in the lab (or at home!).

We will explore the rock types found in this area of Edinburgh’s coast.  And, we will use scientific literature to see if any previous fossil finds have been made in the area.

A health and safety briefing will be given at the beginning and you will be asked to confirm that you understood the risks associated with attending this field trip.

Teaching method(s)

The course will be delivered exclusively in the field but will link with activities that take place in the course, “Introduction to Palaeontology”

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the most likely site for fossil formation.
• Recognise fossil finds within the context of the field location.
• Conduct a field study safely and using the scientific method, under appropriate supervision.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.