Oughtonhead Lane

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.9549, -0.2963

Also within

Hertfordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TL171298 Favourable 0.98 2021-10-15

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Tufa

Landscape processes: Glacial, Karst

Description

Description Oughtonhead Lane is important for Quaternary studies. It is one of two interglacial tufa sites which are noted for much richer assemblages of fossil land snails than other Middle Pleistocene sites in Britain. The tufa at Oughtonhead Lane also contains a fossil fauna of small mammals which is significant for interpreting the age of the deposit. Oughtonhead Lane provides important evidence for Quarternary environmental reconstruction and dating and through its stratigraphic position the tufa has a bearing on the interpretation of the age of glaciation in East Anglia.