Long Hanborough Gravel Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP418137 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 2.12 | 2013-01-07 |
| SP420134 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 1.63 | 2013-01-07 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary
Description
Area, 4.3 hectares 10.6 ac Description This site provides exposures in the gravel of the Pleistocene Hanborough Terrace of the Evenlode Valley, for which it maybe considered the type site. The deposits have yielded molluscan fossils indicative of a cold environment and vertebrate remains which suggest warmer conditions. Rare Palaeolithic hand axes have also been found in the Hanborough Terrace gravel. Exceptional examples of ice wedge casts occur, particularly at the northern end of the site. As the last remaining exposures of the gravels underlying the Long Hanborough area, this site is of considerable scientific importance in studies of the terraces and evolution of the Thames.