Field dashboard
Trips, locations, finds, tools and backup in one local-first workspace.
The UK's Fossil Recording Platform
Record your finds.
Record your finds.
Preserve what matters.
Every fossil tells a story. FossilMap makes sure the full story gets recorded.
Capture GPS, photographs and geological context in the field. Build a collection you can be proud of and contribute to the UK's growing fossil record when you're ready.
FossilMap helps collectors record better finds. FossilMapped helps those shared records become useful research data.
Free · No account · Works offline · Your data stays on your device
Record privately first. Share only when you are ready.
Free for all collectors
No account required
Works offline in the field
GPS provenance on every find
Long-term fossil records
How FossilMap works
A proper field-recording workflow.
FossilMap is built around how fossil recording actually works in the field. Start with a known locality or field trip, record specimens with GPS, photographs and geological context, then generate a structured field report when needed.
Simple enough for a first fossil. Structured enough to preserve useful scientific context.
1
Locations
Set up your localities
Add a known site — beach, quarry or cliff section — with geological context, SSSI flags and BGS formation lookup from your GPS position.
2
Field Trips
Open a field session
Start a session at a locality. All finds recorded during the trip are linked to the session — building a full, dated field trip record.
3
Finds
Record each specimen
Quick GPS capture in the field. Add taxon, period, formation, photographs and taphonomy at the car or at home. Each specimen gets a unique reference code.
4
Reports
Export and share
Generate a printable PDF field report. Export your full collection as a JSON backup. Share selected specimens to FossilMapped when your record is ready.
App sections
Home
Trips
Locations
Finds
Tools
Quick specimen recording · Field trip records · Printable/exportable reports · JSON backup
Why recording matters
Location and context are as important
Location and context are as important
as the fossil itself.
Recording where and how a fossil was found preserves information that can never be recovered once it's lost — and turns a personal find into a long-term record.
Context can't be recovered later
Once a fossil is removed without a record, that information is gone for good. GPS coordinates, formation and find context take seconds to capture in the field — but cannot be reconstructed afterwards.
Collectors create useful knowledge
Amateur collectors recover significant material from UK sites every year. Properly documented finds can help fossil groups, local recorders and future collectors understand what was found and where.
Records outlast collections
Collections change hands. Specimens are donated, sold, dispersed. A documented record — with specimen code, GPS, photographs and stratigraphy — survives the specimen itself.
More than a map. FossilMap helps collectors record better finds. FossilMapped helps those shared records become useful research data.
Who it's for
Built for collectors.
Built for collectors.
Open to everyone.
From a first find on a family beach trip to a serious long-term collection — FossilMap works at every level, and your records contribute to the wider picture.
Collectors
Record your finds properly, from the very first one.
Whether this is your first find or your five-hundredth, the record you make now is the one that lasts. FossilMap makes good recording simple — quick enough in the rain, detailed enough for a serious collection.
- ✓ Record in the field, detail later. One tap captures GPS position before the moment is gone. Add stratigraphy, taxon and taphonomy at home.
- ✓ Photograph with purpose. In-situ, cleaned and scale photographs with annotation, linked to the specimen record.
- ✓ Manage your collection. Every specimen linked to its locality, with citable reference codes traceable through preparation and reporting.
- ✓ Use geological context. Add formation, period and location detail so the find still makes sense years later.
- ✓ Track discoveries over time. Field trips, locality histories and collection completeness — your entire archive in one place.
- ✓ Contribute to the shared record. Share selected finds to FossilMapped and become part of the UK's growing fossil database — on your terms.
Researchers
Useful data from collector records.
FossilMapped brings together shared fossil records with provenance — GPS coordinates, formation, stage, element and photographs. The database grows with every collector who chooses to share.
- ✓ Spatial and stratigraphic data. Filter finds by period, formation, taxon and region. Every record includes GPS coordinates captured in the field.
- ✓ Study distributions. Explore geographical and geological patterns across the growing UK dataset.
- ✓ Permanent record references. Every shared fossil receives a unique reference and permanent link for long-term access.
- ✓ Contact collectors directly. Significant finds can be followed up — collectors who opt in can be contacted for further study.
- ✓ Complete record structure. Records include element, preservation mode, taphonomy and find context — the fields that make shared data useful.
Record status tiers
Community, Verified
Community, Verified
and Research Grade.
FossilMapped supports record status tiers, helping separate community-submitted records from verified and research-grade records. Every shared find starts as a community record and may advance with further review.
Community Record
Submitted by collectors and shared to the public fossil database. Visible to all, open for community engagement.
Verified Record
Reviewed and confirmed by trusted verifiers. Taxon, geological context and provenance have been checked.
Research Grade Record
High-quality records with strong supporting evidence. Suitable for citation, long-term research and institutional reference.
Platform impact
A growing national dataset.
Every shared find adds to the growing public record of Britain's fossil heritage.
—
Fossils recorded
and growing
—
Species represented
across taxa
—
Formations covered
UK geology
—
Public records
publicly available
Statistics update as new finds are recorded and shared.
What gets recorded
A better record, without extra fuss.
FossilMap helps you capture the details that are easy to forget in the field — not just the name of the fossil, but the place, photographs and geological context that make the record useful later.
Quality indicators
Quality indicators help researchers see which records contain the strongest supporting information. FossilMap tracks completeness across the fields that matter most — so a record that includes GPS, taxon, formation, photographs and measurements is clearly distinguishable from one that does not.
- ✓ GPS location
- ✓ Taxon identified
- ✓ Skeletal element
- ✓ Geological formation
- ✓ Stage & member
- ✓ Photographs
- ✓ Measurements
- ✓ Stratigraphic context
- ✓ Repository / accession
- ✓ Contactable record
- Taxon with confidence gradingHigh, medium or low — honest uncertainty is better data than false certainty.
- Geological contextPeriod, stage, formation, member and bed — every specimen placed in geological time.
- Element and preservation modeBody fossil, trace, mould, cast, permineralised — taphonomy is part of the record.
- GPS provenance in the fieldOne tap captures exact find position. Fill the detail in later — the location is never lost.
- Photographs with scale annotationIn-situ, cleaned and scale photos with drawing annotation — before context is gone.
- Specimen codesEvery record gets a unique UK-YEAR-XXXXXX reference traceable through preparation and reporting.
- Geology lookupUse British Geological Survey mapping to help identify the geology beneath your find location. Formation, period and geological context can be added directly from your GPS position.
- Full geological context per sitePeriod, stage, formation, lithology and exposure type — every specimen placed in its stratigraphic setting.
- SSSI and RIGS designation flagsMark protected sites and record consent — so records reflect the legal context of each locality.
- Record completeness indicatorFossilMap shows which important fields are populated — useful when building a better long-term record.
- All finds linked to their siteEvery specimen tied to its locality. Browse a site and see the full collection recovered from it.
Specimen recorder
Quick field capture first, then complete the record with context, photos and provenance.
In the field
From first find to complete report.
Start a field trip, log finds as you go, check tides before you head to the foreshore, and export a structured PDF at the end of the day.
Active session
Live trip mode
Open a session at a locality and add finds as you recover them. Notes, photographs and GPS — tied to the trip record in real time.
Geology lookup
British Geological Survey context
Use BGS mapping to help identify the geology beneath your find location. Formation, period and geological context can be added directly from your GPS position.
Quick Find
Gloves on. Rain falling.
One tap logs GPS position immediately. Add taxon, period and context later — at the car or at home. The location is never lost.
PDF report
Exportable field record
Generate a complete PDF from the session — suitable for club records, planning condition documentation or personal archives.
Tide times
Foreshore planning
UK Environment Agency gauge readings built in. Know when the water turns — before you leave home. Includes foreshore safety guidance.
Latest discoveries
Browse all finds ↗
Recent records from FossilMapped
Dactylioceras commune
Shared record
Gryphaea arcuata
Shared record
Acanthoteuthis sp.
Significant find
Asteroceras obtusum
Shared record
Ichthyosaurus communis
Significant find
Example records shown. Browse the live dataset at FossilMapped.
↗ FossilMapped · The UK's growing fossil occurrence database
The shared research portal.
The shared research portal.
Public records. Proper data.
FossilMapped is the public research portal for shared UK fossil records. Only records explicitly shared from FossilMap appear here — community-submitted, verified and research-grade finds from collectors across the country.
Every shared record can be explored through a spatial map, record list, visual gallery, analytics dashboard and export tools. Records receive a permanent reference, citation tools and BibTeX download for academic use.
Nothing is shared automatically. FossilMap stores everything locally. Sharing to FossilMapped is an explicit, specimen-by-specimen choice — when the record meets your own standard.
- Spatial map, record list and galleryBrowse shared public records by location on a map, as a searchable database, or through a visual photo gallery.
- Filter by taxon, period, formation and regionSearch and narrow records by any combination of geological or taxonomic criteria. Every shared record includes GPS coordinates captured in the field.
- Analytics and CSV / JSON exportDistribution charts and occurrence patterns across the growing UK dataset. Download filtered record sets with all provenance fields intact.
- Citation and BibTeX downloadEvery shared fossil receives a permanent HRID reference, direct link and citation tools including BibTeX for academic use.
- Contactable recordsCollectors who opt in can be contacted directly — supporting follow-up study of significant finds.
- Public shared records onlyFossilMapped shows only what collectors have chosen to share. Private records stay on the collector's device, never visible here.
Shared fossil database
Public finds explored as a map, record list, gallery and analytics dashboard.
What makes a shareable record
✓Taxon identified to species or genus
✓Formation and stage recorded
✓GPS coordinates captured in the field
✓At least one in-situ photograph
✓Find context or taphonomy notes
✓Skeletal element recorded
Every shared fossil receives
✓Unique HRID reference
✓Permanent link
✓Citation tools and BibTeX download
✓Research access options
✓Quality completeness indicator
Who uses FossilMapped
Amateur collectors
Geology clubs
Local recorders
Fossil groups
Students
Researchers
Your data stays yours.
Nothing leaves FossilMap without your explicit action. Every share to FossilMapped is a deliberate choice — not a background sync.
Long-term value
Useful beyond your collection.
A good fossil record helps you understand your own finds, preserve provenance and share useful information when the record is ready.
Find patterns
GPS-referenced finds help show where fossils occur across formations, periods and regions.
Geological context
Formation, member and bed details keep each fossil connected to the layer it came from.
Collector contact options
Significant finds can be followed up if the collector chooses to make contact possible.
Permanent references
Shared fossils receive stable references and links, so the record can be found again later.
Well-kept records
Completeness indicators, protected-site flags and provenance help keep important details together.
Preservation notes
Element, preservation mode, taphonomy and find context help explain what the fossil actually represents.
Privacy by design
Your records. Your device.
Specimens, GPS, photographs and locality data are stored in your device's own database. Nothing is uploaded in the background.
Local-first by designEverything on your device — works fully offline with no signal or account required.
No automatic sharingRecords, GPS positions and photographs are never synced without your deliberate action.
Full data exportExport your entire collection as a JSON backup at any time. Your data, not held elsewhere.
Selective sharing to FossilMappedShare individual specimens to the public fossil database — one by one, when the record is ready.
Common questions
Everything you need to know before you install.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes — FossilMap is a Progressive Web App (PWA). On iPhone, open in Safari and tap Share → Add to Home Screen. On Android, your browser will prompt you to install. No App Store or Google Play required.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no account, no login and no email required. Everything is stored locally on your device. You can start recording immediately after installing.
Does it work offline?
Specimen recording, locality management, field trip tracking and collection browsing all work offline with no signal. Tide gauge readings and map tiles require a connection, but tiles are cached after your first visit to an area.
Is it suitable for serious recording?
Yes. FossilMap captures period, stage, formation, member, bed, primary lithology, exposure type, element, preservation mode, taphonomy, find context, GPS coordinates and photographs — the details that make a fossil record useful long after the find is made.
What is FossilMapped?
FossilMapped is the public research portal for shared UK fossil records. It includes a spatial map, searchable record list, visual gallery, analytics dashboard, and CSV/JSON export. Shared fossils receive a permanent HRID reference, citation tools and BibTeX download. FossilMapped supports Community, Verified and Research Grade record tiers, and collectors who opt in can be contacted directly for significant finds. Only records explicitly shared from FossilMap appear here — nothing is shared automatically.
What kinds of fossil can I record?
Any kind. Common taxa are available as quick picks but the taxon field accepts free text. Preservation, element, taphonomy and find context work for any specimen type.
What happens to my data if I change phones?
Use the backup export in Settings before switching. FossilMap exports your full record — all specimens, localities, field trips and photographs — as a JSON file that restores on your new device. Nothing is on a server, so the export is the only copy.
Is FossilMap affiliated with any museum or institution?
FossilMap is an independent platform. If you are a researcher, museum or institution interested in the dataset or a formal partnership, please use the contact page.
Start recording properly.
Today.
Whether this is your first find or your five-hundredth, the record you build today is the one that lasts — for your own collection, and potentially for science.
No account. No subscription. Your data stays on your device.
Record privately first. Share only when you are ready.