Whitby Fossil Day Celebrates Yorkshire’s Geological Heritage at Whitby Museum

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image: Tony Bartholomew

Whitby Museum will celebrate Yorkshire Day with a special event dedicated to the remarkable fossils found along the North Yorkshire coast. Taking place on Saturday 1 August, Whitby Fossil Day will offer visitors the opportunity to explore the region’s rich fossil heritage through expert talks, hands-on activities and exclusive access to museum collections.

Discover Fossils from the Yorkshire Coast

Running from 11am to 3pm, the event will welcome fossil enthusiasts of all ages. Visitors will be able to examine specimens from the museum’s fossil handling collection and bring along their own discoveries for identification by the museum’s geology specialists.

According to Whitby Museum’s Geology Curator, Roger Osborne, the Yorkshire coastline contains one of the most diverse fossil records in the UK, featuring everything from dinosaur footprints and prehistoric plants to marine reptiles and Carboniferous corals.

Activities and Attractions at Whitby Fossil Day

The event programme includes a variety of activities designed to engage visitors with the region’s geological history.

Hands-on fossil identification sessions with museum experts.
Illustration workshops led by award-winning prehistoric life artist James McKay.
A display of dinosaur footprints discovered along the Yorkshire coast.
Guided tours of the museum’s geology collection.
Behind-the-scenes access to selected museum stores.
Information and advice from representatives of the Geologists’ Association.

Author Talk and Book Signing

Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet author Matthew Myerscough, who will discuss and sign copies of his book In Search of Sea Dragons: A Fossil Hunter’s Odyssey. Myerscough is recognised within the fossil hunting community for uncovering significant marine reptile fossils along the Yorkshire coastline.

The Mystery of Whitby’s Garlic Stones

The day will conclude with a fascinating presentation from palaeontologist Dr Liam Herringshaw, who will explore the mystery surrounding the so-called “Whitby Garlic Stones”.

Discovered near Whitby in 2021, these unusual fossil traces resemble garlic bulbs and represent a type of trace fossil not previously recorded in Yorkshire. Dr Herringshaw’s talk will examine their origins, how they may have formed, and what they could reveal about historical environmental changes and the impact of rapid climate change on life at the seafloor.