Layers of Time: How Sedimentary Rocks Reveal Earth’s History
5 December 2026
10:00am-5:00pm
Ewert House Ewert Place, Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DD
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
5 December 2026
Study Format:
In-person day/weekend
Fees:
£140.00
Rocks and fossils are all we have left of ancient environments. In this seminar-style day event, you will explore how to look at these closely, and learn how to identify the rocks to glean the small detail required in order to interpret how they formed. In addition, plants and animals have evolved within very specific environments. We'll combine fossil information with the rock evidence to transform tiny clues into big stories.
Learn how to observe the most useful features, what to record and how to interpret the information. We will work through the principal kinds of sedimentary rock and how they form. You will then bring in the fossil evidence to fine tune the environment.
We will discover what the world of the past was really like. How can you tell a desert sandstone from a beach sandstone? Explore the characteristics of glacial environments and different kinds of river, tropical seas, deep seas and deltas. A large selection of rocks and fossils will provide an exciting hands-on experience.
This is an interactive course suitable for all – from those with some geological knowledge to beginners. Helpful handouts, flow charts and the tutor will guide you through a fascinating insight to the past.
Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 on 2 December 2026.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Accommodation
If you wish to stay with us before and/or after the event, please contact our Residential Centre for availability and discounted rates.
Call +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
Our accommodation in Wellington Square has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation under Visit England. All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished with tea/coffee making facilities, Freeview television, private bath/shower rooms and free WiFi. For more details see our accommodation information.
Recommended reading
Rothery, David. A., Geology: The Key Ideas (Hodder Education, 2022 )
Programme details
Saturday 5 December 2026
9.45am
Registration
10am
Identifying Sedimentary Rocks and Environmental Clues
11.15am
Tea/coffee break
11.45am
Identifying Fossils and Recognising Environmental Clues
1pm
Lunch break
2pm
Enter the World of Sedimentary Environments
3.15pm
Tea/coffee break
3.45pm
Work Through Interpretations: a Local Jurassic Site and a Choice from Other Localities within the UK
5pm
End of day
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Event fee (includes tea/coffee) | £140.00 |
| Baguette lunch | £7.90 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Dr Jill Eyers – Tutor
Dr Eyers is a UK geologist and lecturer with many years’ experience who has worked and travelled all over the world. She is an author of many scientific papers and books, and is a regular speaker on cruise ships.
Module code: O26P103BIJ
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.
