Harford Railway Cutting facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | to |
| Coordinates | 51°53′42″N 1°48′16″W / 51.895037°N 1.804496°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 1.2 hectare |
| Notification | 1974 |
Harford Railway Cutting is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing rocks and fossils. This means it's a protected area due to its important natural features. The site covers about 1.2 hectares, which is like two football fields. It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1974.
What is Harford Railway Cutting?
This site was once known as Roundhill Railway Cuttings. It is located within the beautiful Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area is known for its rolling hills and pretty villages. The cutting is a place where a railway line was built, cutting through the land. This cut reveals layers of rock that tell us about Earth's past.
Rocks and Fossils from the Jurassic Period
The rocks you can see at Harford Railway Cutting are from the Jurassic period. This was a very long time ago, about 145 to 200 million years ago. Dinosaurs roamed the Earth during this time! The rocks here are mostly a type called Inferior Oolite. Oolite is a kind of limestone made of tiny, round grains, like little fish eggs.
Scientists can see different layers of rock here. These layers include the Harford Sands and Tilestone. They also include a layer called Clypeus Grit. These layers show a clear timeline of how the rocks formed.
Why is this site important?
Harford Railway Cutting is very special because it shows a continuous section of rock layers. This means you can see a complete history of the Middle and Upper Inferior Oolite rocks. It's like reading a very old book, page by page, without any missing parts.
Because of this, scientists have found many ammonite fossils here. Ammonites were ancient sea creatures with spiral shells, similar to modern-day nautilus. Finding these fossils in order, layer by layer, helps scientists understand how life changed over millions of years. It also helps them figure out the exact age of different rock layers. This makes Harford Railway Cutting a key place for studying Earth's geological history.
