Barrington Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 3.8 hectares |
| Notification | 1989 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Barrington Pit is a really special place in Cambridgeshire, England. It's known as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI) because of its amazing geological features. This means it's a protected area where scientists have found important clues about Earth's past.
What Makes Barrington Pit Special?
Barrington Pit is a 3.8-hectare area near the village of Barrington. It's considered very important for its geology. This site is especially famous for the many mammal fossils found there. Most of these fossils were discovered around the year 1900.
Ancient Animals of Barrington Pit
Scientists have found fossils of many different animals at Barrington Pit. Imagine finding bones from giant creatures that once roamed England! Some of the animals discovered here include:
- Huge hippopotamuses
- Giant straight-tusked elephants
- Powerful lions
- Wild cattle called aurochs
- And even spotted hyenas
These fossils give us a peek into what life was like long, long ago. Scientists believe these animals lived during a warm period called the Eemian period. This was about 130,000 to 115,000 years ago, long before humans as we know them today were common in this area!
Visiting Barrington Pit
Barrington Pit is on private land. This means it's not a place you can visit freely. Part of the area where these amazing fossils were found is now covered by houses. Even though you can't visit, it's still a very important site for understanding Earth's history and the ancient animals that lived here.
