Field dashboard
Trips, locations, finds, tools and backup in one local-first workspace.
The UK's Fossil Recording Platform
FossilMap
Record your finds. Preserve what matters.
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 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 locality and let FossilMap automatically identify formation, period and geological context using British Geological Survey mapping.
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
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.
- Automatic Geological ContextUsing British Geological Survey mapping, FossilMap can automatically identify and populate formation, period and geological context directly from your GPS location.
- 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.
BGS mapping
Automatic Geological Context
Know more than where a fossil was found. FossilMap can automatically identify the geological formation and age beneath your feet.
Specimen labels
QR Specimen Labels
Print QR-coded specimen labels linked directly to the complete fossil record. No more mystery fossils in old trays.
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.
Why recording matters
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.
Research portal
FossilMapped turns shared finds into usable research records.
FossilMapped is not FossilMap with a different name. It's a separate research portal — a public database of shared UK fossil records, explored through a spatial map, record list, gallery and analytics dashboard.
Records only appear here when a collector deliberately chooses to share from FossilMap. Every shared find receives a permanent reference, a direct link and BibTeX citation tools for academic use.
Open Research Portal ↗Public data layer
What researchers can work with
Spatial map
Shared occurrence points with public precision controls.
Record list
Filter by taxon, period, formation and region.
Citations
Permanent references, direct links and BibTeX export.
Data export
CSV and JSON downloads for filtered public records.
Collector contact route
Opt-in contact details support follow-up study of significant finds without making private records public by default.
↗ Research portal · The UK's growing fossil occurrence database
FossilMapped.
FossilMapped.
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.
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.
- 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 BibTeX for academic use.
- Contactable recordsCollectors who opt in can be contacted directly — supporting follow-up study of significant finds.
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
Your data stays yours.
Nothing leaves FossilMap without your explicit action. Every share to FossilMapped is a deliberate choice — not a background sync.
Record status tiers
Community, Verified
Community, Verified
and Research Grade.
Every shared find starts as a Community record. Finds may advance to Verified or Research Grade through further review — visible through coloured badges on the map and record list.
C
Community Record
Submitted by collectors and shared to the public fossil database. Visible to all, open for community engagement.
Orange marker on the map.
V
Verified Record
Reviewed and confirmed. Taxon, geological context and provenance have been checked by a trusted reviewer.
Green marker on the map.
R
Research Grade
High-quality records with confirmed locality, formation and element. Suitable for citation in published work. Exact coordinates visible to verified users.
Blue marker on the map.
FossilMapped
The database.
Live counts from the shared UK fossil record. Growing with every collector who chooses to share.
—
Fossil records
UK finds shared
—
Distinct taxa
Species & genera
—
Formations
Geological units
—
Research grade
Citeable records
About this project
Why FossilMap exists.
FossilMap is being built by a small team with a shared passion for geology, palaeontology and responsible field recording. Our background combines practical collecting experience, fieldwork and an interest in preserving the context that gives fossil discoveries their long-term value.
Several members of the team have been involved in significant field work, including the excavation of the Rutland Sea Dragon and other specimens recovered across the UK. Those experiences have reinforced how important accurate provenance, geological context, photographs and field notes can be once a specimen leaves the ground.
FossilMap aims to create the UK's largest collector-generated fossil occurrence dataset, preserving provenance, stratigraphy and geological context that might otherwise be lost.
Our aim is to develop FossilMap and FossilMapped in partnership with universities, museums, geological societies and other professional organisations. Long term, we want the platform to become a trusted, Portable Antiquities Scheme-style route for the geology world: helping collectors record properly, share voluntarily and contribute useful data to research.
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. Only records explicitly shared from FossilMap appear here — nothing is shared automatically.
How does location precision work?
When sharing a find to FossilMapped, you choose how precisely the GPS location is shown publicly: Exact GPS, ~100m area (recommended), ~1km area, or locality name only. The precision can be unlocked or relocked after sharing. Research Grade records show exact coordinates to verified users.
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.