Environment

World's 'oldest' spider web found in UK

by Amy Judd | March 6, 2009 at 02:57 pm

354 views | 78 Recommendations | 9 comments

Two fossil hunters have found what is thought to be the world's oldest spider web preserved in amber on an East Sussex beach at Bexhill. It is thought that it is 140 million years old, which would mean it was preserved in the Cretaceous period.

At the same time the two brothers also found the fossilised remains of an Iguanodon jaw bone. Both are now being studied at Oxford University.

Professor Martin Brasier, a palaeobiologist at the university, said: "You can see where the web is attached to the surface.

"If it is confirmed - and we think we have got good evidence for it - then it would be the oldest preserved spider's web and the oldest fossil silk, I think, in the fossil record."

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Tina Kells

at 15:34 on March 6th, 2009

Amy, ewww. I wish I could like them but spiders are just so gross!

Blue Crush

at 15:38 on March 6th, 2009

I love amber! I've a nice sized piece with a bug inside.

I don't know how they could possibly prove that's a spider's web ...

Fripouille

at 16:36 on March 6th, 2009

Thank you for this information.

I had no idea that spiders could master web technology.

So the web was invented 140 million years ago? Did they have Youtube then?

Jeez. You learn something new every day...:)

Barbara McPherson

at 16:37 on March 6th, 2009

Interesting. I don't like spiders much either. I'm half afraid of one falling in my mouth when I'm sleeping with my mouth open.

mtammas

at 16:41 on March 6th, 2009

It's amazing how many spiders we swallow in a lifetime due to open-mouthed sleeping...

kuuva

at 17:07 on March 6th, 2009

wasn't it reported Sarah Palin thought the world was created 6000 years ago? How would she explain these fossils?

Misconception (not verified)

at 17:27 on March 6th, 2009

I'd like to take this opportunity to dispel the myth that science has somehow proven that you eat spiders in your sleep. Do some Googling, it is rarer than rare. When an arthropod feels hot breath it's instinct is to flee (considering it's about to be eaten). As soon as it gets near your mouth it knows something's wrong, so unless it literally fell into your mouth, there's no way it's going in there. Anyway, how do you think they carried out these supposed studies? How would you go about studying something like this? It's just another internet legend.