Other Charente fossil sites
Charente and its neighbours: comparing fossil sites
Nearby sites, different records
The region’s fossil sites record different times and environments. Champblanc, at Cherves-Richemont in Charente, and Chassiron, on the Île d’Oléron in Charente-Maritime, provide essential comparisons for understanding Angeac.
These regional fossil sites preserve faunas of different ages.
Regional setting: Allain et al., 2022 ↗, introduction and figure 1.
Champblanc: a history of lagoons and lakes
A few kilometres north of Cognac, the Champblanc quarry preserves a succession of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous deposits. Gypsum, clays, marls and limestones record changes between a coastal lagoon and lake conditions.
Small vertebrate remains are particularly important here. They complement larger fish, turtle and crocodyliform fossils. Their study forms a distinct research history for this site.
Chassiron: a Late Jurassic coastline
At the northern tip of the Île d’Oléron, Chassiron records the Tithonian, before Angeac’s Berriasian deposits. Its assemblages combine terrestrial, freshwater and marine organisms, documenting a coastal environment.
This Charente-Maritime site complements regional research with a fauna and coastal environment older than those of Angeac.
What is compared
| Fossil site | Age | Recorded environment |
|---|---|---|
| Chassiron · Charente-Maritime | Tithonian, Late Jurassic | Coastal; terrestrial, freshwater and marine influences |
| Champblanc / Cherves · Charente | Tithonian–Berriasian succession | Coastal lagoon and lake; alternating deposits |
| Angeac-Charente · Charente | Berriasian, Early Cretaceous | Freshwater wetland plain near a river |
The age and environment of the deposits, together with fossil preservation, explain some differences between these assemblages. Comparing them sheds light on changes in faunas and landscapes across the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition.
Compare charophytes from the three sites → · Angeac’s ancient environment → · The book on regional fossil sites →
