Early Jurassic

The Early Jurassic was a very old time, long before humans were around. It was the first part of a big time called the Jurassic Period. It started about 201 million years ago and lasted until about 174 million years ago.

The Earth looked very different then. The continents were moving, and many new plants and animals were beginning to grow and swim. Some important rocks from this time are found in Europe. These rocks help scientists learn about what the world was like millions of years ago.

In the United Kingdom, especially near the coast, there are many rocks from the Early Jurassic. The Jurassic Coast in Dorset is famous for its cliffs. These cliffs show layers that were formed when a desert was covered by the sea.

During the Early Jurassic, many interesting sea creatures lived. Ammonoids, with their spiral shells, came back in new shapes. New kinds of sea reptiles, like Ichthyosaurus, also appeared. On land, many new dinosaurs and other animals were exploring the world.