The Palaeoenvironment around Staithes

 

This means what was the weather, flora and fauna like in Staithes millions of years ago. In actual fact we have a pretty good idea.

We know from the geology that the climate was hot and cycled between wet and dry periods. Deposits of Lignite indicate that there were, at times, extensive forests probably of a coniferous or cycadic type. This deposit has been worked by man to recover the mineral Jet for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

The area around what is now Staithes was of the marine type as all of the fossils recovered indicate a salt water environment.

 

More to follow...