A Remarkable Friendship
By Amy Bentley
Ammonite fossil (George Laycock/Shutterstock.com).
Mary Anning was one of the greatest fossil collectors in history. Her discoveries had a major impact on the early study of paleontology and geology at a time when deep-rooted religious beliefs clashed with the rising field of science. Mary was an impoverished young girl in early 1800s England with no formal education—in other words, she was a nobody. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier tells her amazing story.
Plesiosaur drawing made in 1823 (Mary Anning).
Mary lived and worked in Lyme Regis, a small town located along the southern coast of England. This region is now recognized as one of the most important fossil sites in the world and is nicknamed the Jurassic Coast. From childhood on, Mary spent her days collecting fossil ammonites and excavating extinct reptile and sea creature fossils from the seaside cliffs at Charmouth and Lyme Regis. Her father, also a fossil hunter, sold the fossils he and Mary found—called “curiosities” at the time—to help the family put food on the table.
Tracy Chevalier brilliantly weaves in actual historical events as she tells Mary’s story and the escapades of another real-life fossil enthusiast Elizabeth Philpot, an unmarried, middle-class woman who moved from London to Lyme Regis. While much older, Elizabeth befriended Mary and shared her interest in fossil hunting, collecting, and cleaning. Elizabeth appreciated Mary’s gift and became her advocate as a series of wealthy gentlemen interested in buying Mary’s fossil finds visited the area and monopolized Mary’s time and attention. Elizabeth struggled to keep her jealousy in check, often lamenting her lonely single life.
Chevalier’s book brings to life the excitement of the era over Mary’s new fossil discoveries. It also highlights how wealthy men in the sciences who collected fossils often overlooked Mary’s work and failed to give her credit. At the time, women were not allowed to join the Geological Society of London, attend its conferences, or present their work to the membership.
The Cobb, Lyme Regis (Terry Yarrow/Shutterstock.com).
This novel is a fascinating read that easily allows readers to develop a clear picture of the cliffs on a damp, overcast day as Mary hunts for fossils. You will feel like you are right there on the beach with Mary and Elizabeth, who often accompanied Mary on her fossil hunts at low tide.
This story celebrates women pioneers in the budding scientific community who left a huge impact, despite the odds against them in terms of gender and class. It’s a must-read for beachcombers everywhere whose innate curiosity leads them on shoreline hunts for the next amazing beach find.
Learn more in this presentation by Sam Caethoven and Jason Sandy, who took us along to hunt for fossils in England — in Lyme Regis, Charmouth, and the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. See breathtaking coastal scenery along with the extraordinary fossils and entire marine reptile skeletons found along the coast.
This article appeared in Beachcombing Volume 40 January/February 2024.
Learn more about beach fossil finds from around the world. Articles ›
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 47 March/April 2025.
