{{short description|Site of Special Interest in Norfolk, England}} {{Infobox SSSI |image= Bramerton Pits.jpg |image_caption = |name= Bramerton Pits |aos= Norfolk, England |interest=Geological |gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TG 296 060}}<ref name=dsv/> |area= {{convert|0.7|ha|acre|abbr=off}}<ref name=dsv/> |notifydate= 1985<ref name=dsv/> |map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000688%27 ''Magic Map''] }} '''Bramerton Pits''' is a {{convert| 0.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} geological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] north of the village of [[Bramerton]] in [[Norfolk|Norfolk, England]], on the southern banks of the [[River Yare]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1000688&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Bramerton Pits| series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 9 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000688%27|title=Map of Bramerton Pits|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 9 July 2018}}</ref> It is a [[Geological Conservation Review]] site.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=1161 |title= Bramerton (Pleistocene Vertebrata) |series=Geological Conservation Review |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 25 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=608 |title=Bramerton (Quaternary of East Anglia) |series=Geological Conservation Review |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 25 May 2018}}</ref>
The site is composed of two disused gravel pits which are important for the study of the [[Lower Pleistocene]]. Bramerton Common Pit is the [[Type locality (geology)|type site]] of the [[Norwich Crag Formation]] and Blakes Pit is the type site of the [[Bramertonian Stage]]. Both pits have yielded rich, mainly marine vertebrate fossils.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1000688.pdf |title=Bramerton Pits citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 9 July 2018}}</ref>
The geological deposits include sands, silts and gravels which have yielded fossils of marine and non-marine mollusca, foraminifera and vertebrates. Studies of fossils from Blake's Pit have demonstrated changes from temperate (Bramertonian) to cold (Pre-Pastonian) climatic conditions. Bramerton Common Pit has yielded a rich fossil vertebrate fauna including marine fishes and extinct species of [[gomphothere]] mastodont, otter and vole. Both sites are nationally important for understanding early Pleistocene environments and faunal changes in Britain.
Bramerton Common Pit is adjacent to Bramerton Common near Woods End and Blakes Pit is further east at the end of Hill House Road. There is public access to the site.
==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category|Bramerton Pits}} {{coord| 52.603|1.389 |type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}} {{SSSIs Norfolk }} [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Norfolk]] [[Category:Geological Conservation Review sites]]