Traveller's Rest Pit

Summary

Traveller's Rest Pit is a 2.2-hectare (5.4-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the western outskirts of Cambridge.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3]

Traveller's Rest Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationCambridgeshire
Grid referenceTL 429 598[1]
InterestGeological
Area2.2 hectares[1]
Notification1983[1]
Location mapMagic Map

This is described by Natural England as an important site dating to the Anglian ice age around 450,000 years ago. Ice wedges indicate a long period of permafrost. Non-marine molluscs and occasional large vertebrates indicate an open landscape. The site also has the most extensive collection of stone tools in Cambridgeshire. These are thought to date to the Cromerian Stage, which preceded the Anglian, and are of Chellean, Acheulian, Early Levalloisian and Clactonian types.[4][5]

The site has been filled in. Part of the site lies under the playing fields at Eddington, the remainder is private land with no public access.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Traveller's Rest Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Map of Traveller's Rest Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Travellers Rest Pit (Quaternary of East Anglia)". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Traveller's Rest Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Traveller's Rest Pit baseline Report" (PDF). University of Cambridge. August 2011. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.

52°13′05″N 0°05′24″E / 52.218°N 0.09°E / 52.218; 0.09