Book review: Fossils on the Seashore: Beachcombing and Palaeontology, by Stephen K Donovan
Jon Trevelyan (UK)
At first glance, the title might mislead you into expecting a simple guide to finding fossils while strolling along the beach – a sort of field companion for holiday rock-hunters. But Stephen Donovan’s Fossils on the Seashore is a very different creature. It’s not about collecting curiosities for the mantelpiece. It’s about understanding the dynamic relationship between the living and the fossil record, and how coastlines act as natural laboratories for palaeontological (actually aktuo palaeontology) and neoichnological study (i.e. focussing on modern traces).
My apologies for using the term “aktuo palaeontology” but blame Stephen. This consists of the examination of living and dead organisms as fossils in the making. As he says (quoting Schäfer in Ecology and Palaeoecology in Marine Environments):
An actuopalaeontologist is naturally interested in almost every aspect of marine biology […]. However, he has additional interests that are normally not shared by his biological colleagues.”
In this way, Donovan takes the reader well beyond the thrill of discovery to examine why fossils are found on the seashore, how they got there, and what their preservation tells us about ancient environments. He draws insightful parallels between the traces left by modern organisms – burrows, borings (in particular, his “boring trinity” of Caulostrepsis, Entobia and Gastrochaenolites, the traces of which bestride our beaches) and trails – and their fossil counterparts, showing how observing today’s beaches helps us interpret behaviour in the distant past.
Therefore, rather than a “where to find” manual, this is a book about “how to look”. Stephen invites us to see beaches not as static collecting grounds but as constantly changing systems shaped by erosion, deposition and biological activity. He writes as both a scientist and natural historian, keen to bridge the gap between professional palaeontology and the curiosity of the engaged beachcomber, ultimately celebrating observation over acquisition. It’s about reading the language of the coast, not stripping it of souvenirs. For those who thought beachcombing was merely about collecting, he shows that the real reward lies in learning how to interpret the traces of life – both ancient and alive today.
In this respect, Stephen sets out his aims in writing this book in On the beach, by Stephen K Donovan. He is a retired geologist and expert palaeontologist, who balances scholarly knowledge with practical guidance. Early in the book, he notes that many inland sites are increasingly off-limits, so the seashore becomes the accessible arena for the aspiring palaeontologist, and this is something that I personally know to be only too true, as access to working quarries becoming increasingly restricted for the amateur.
And his background as a geologist/palaeontologist gives the book credible weight. He brings field-experience to the pages, which means the guidance feels grounded rather than merely speculative. The tone appears to be conversational but knowledgeable. He strikes a balance between enthusiasm and rigour. That is, his prose is precise yet accessible, peppered with examples that make the reader pause and look again at what seems familiar. A ripple mark, a worm tube, a pattern in the sand – all become clues to a deep and continuing story of life interacting with sediment.
The structure of the book is clear: Part I introduces the beach-environment aspects, Part II shows “what to look for” (different fossil types), and Part III takes the reader to specific coastal localities (Margate, Sandown, Walton-on-the-Naze, Overstrand, Easington and the Isle of Mull).
One question is: How well does the book balance the “field guide for amateurs” role with serious palaeontology? While the author is credible, the format may still leave deeper-geology buffs wanting more detail, e.g. sedimentary contexts, detailed stratigraphy, advanced preservation issues, and broader palaeo-ecological discussions might be somewhat underrepresented. But while the marketing blurb emphasises “easy reference in the field”, I say, “why not?”
So, who should read it? If you’re an amateur fossil-hunter in the UK (or planning to go there) and you want a reliable guide to coastal fossil finds, this is very likely one of the best bets. If you’re a geology or palaeontology student or professional, this could serve as a good field companion or outreach tool – although you might seek supplementary texts for deeper theory. However: it shouldn’t be seen as the definitive palaeontological tome for all settings, nor a lightweight coffee table book. Its strength lies in the UK coastal niche and practical orientation. If you’re heading to the shore with a collecting bag and keen eyes, this book is quite likely worth your time and money.
The publication date was 31 October 2025.
About the author
Dr Stephen Donovan has been publishing on such diverse subjects as palaeontology, Caribbean geology, the history of science, ichnology and academic publishing for over 35 years, including numerous articles for Deposits magazine, where one of his books has been reviewed by me (see Book review: Hands-on Palaeontology: a practical manual, by Stephen K Donovan).
Fossils on the Seashore: Beachcombing and Palaeontology, by Stephen K Donovan, Liverpool University Press, Liverpool (2025), hardcover (184 pages) ISBN : 978-1780461090