Little Oakley Channel Deposit

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image=Little Oakley Channel Deposit 4.jpg

|image_caption=No geology is visible as the site has been filled in.

|name= Little Oakley Channel Deposit

|aos= Essex

|interest= Geological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TM 223296}}

|area= 3.0 hectares

|notifydate=1990

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001089%27 Magic Map]

}}

Little Oakley Channel Deposit is a three-hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Little Oakley in Essex, England.{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001089.pdf |title=Little Oakley Channel Deposit citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 4 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001089%27 |title=Map of Little Oakley Channel Deposit|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 4 July 2016}} It is a Geological Conservation Review site.{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=1852 |title= Little Oakley (Quaternary of the Thames) |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|accessdate= 4 July 2016}}

This site exposed a former channel of the River Thames during an interglacial period around 575,000 years ago, probably where it met the early River Medway. The site was found in 1939, but not excavated until the 1980s. Many fossils were found, including rhinoceros and giant deer, many freshwater shells and an extensive pollen record, allowing geologists to reconstruct the fauna and flora of the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/Geology+Site+Account/s/Little+Oakley+Channel+SSSI/o/Little+Oakley+Channel+SSSI|title=Little Oakley Channel SSSI|publisher=The Essex Field Club|accessdate= 4 July 2016}}

As the site has been filled in, no geology is visible.