Country
Fossil hunting in Portugal
Portugal's Atlantic coast preserves one of Europe's richest Late Jurassic dinosaur records in the Lourinhã Formation, the cliffs and beaches between Peniche and Lourinhã producing sauropods, theropods, stegosaurs, and the world's oldest known sauropod and theropod nests.
Vertebrate fossils in Portugal are state property; collection of dinosaur bone or tracks requires authorisation from the regional cultural-heritage authority and is normally restricted to researchers. Surface beach pebbles bearing common invertebrate fossils are generally permitted; check signage at each site.
The Museu da Lourinhã (GEAL) is the institutional gateway to the region — guided field tours, the Dino Parque theme park, and partnerships with the Universidade Nova de Lisboa run summer excavation campaigns open to volunteers.
Top picks: Lourinhã (Upper Jurassic Lourinhã Formation, museum + Dino Parque + cliff walks).
1 fossil site
