Monument record CRM 125 - Creeting St Mary Pits SSI

This complex of old quarry sections allows a very important part of the Lower Pleistocene stratigraphy of Suffolk to be demonstrated. The site is of great importance as the type-site of the recently defined Creeting Sands, thought to be shallow marine/intertidal sediments laid down during an early Pleistocene interglacial. These occur at the base of the sequence and are overlain by gravels, either early Thames deposits (Kesgrave Formation) or Anglian outwash, which are in turn overlain by till (Lowestoft Formation). The description of these newly defined marine/intertidal beds and the appraisal of their relationship to better established parts of the East Anglian stratigraphy are at an early stage, but will clearly focus considerable attention on the Creeting St Mary Pits. The latter therefore have considerable research potential as well as great importance as a key stratigraphic site. (S1).