Gram Clay Pit & Palaeontology Museum

A former seabed turned open-air fossil playground

Ten million years ago, the quiet fields around Gram lay beneath the waters of the Gram Sea, a shallow arm of the ancient North Sea. At Gram Clay Pit, you stand on what was once the soft seabed, now exposed as grey-black clay rich in fossil treasures. The active clay pit stretches as a broad, open bowl in the landscape, its terraced sides and pools of water hinting at the site’s industrial past. Visitors come here not just to look, but to get their hands dirty. The museum lends spades, small tools and rubber boots, so you can step down into the clay and start searching. The material is soft and easy to work, making this a particularly accessible fossil site for curious beginners and children.

Whales, Megalodon and other legends of the Gram Sea

Right beside the pit, the palaeontology museum reveals what once swam above this seabed. Inside, you encounter some of Denmark’s largest fossilised whale skeletons, including species like Uranocetus, suspended or displayed in dramatic gallery spaces. These remains come directly from the clay layers outside and represent species not found anywhere else. Displays on giant sharks such as Megalodon, along with fossils of seals, rays, fish, crabs, sea urchins, snails and mussels, fill in the food web of this ancient sea. Clear texts and models show how scientists use these finds to reconstruct climate, currents and ecosystems from millions of years ago.

Hands-on fossil hunting for all ages

Out in the pit, the experience becomes wonderfully tactile. You scrape through the moist clay, watching for the tell-tale shine of a shell or the distinctive form of a sea urchin. Common discoveries include mussel and snail shells and small invertebrates, which you are usually allowed to take home as souvenirs of your time travel. To help you get started, the museum offers introductory films and, in holiday periods, a Fossil Hunter guide who roams the pit giving tips, identifying finds and explaining why some pieces are scientifically important. Any bones, teeth or unusual specimens are shown to staff and, if rare, may be kept for the national fossil collection.

From working clay quarry to centre of science

The story of Gram Clay Pit is also one of industrial heritage. For decades, the clay layers were quarried for brick production, gradually revealing the fossil-bearing strata. As spectacular finds emerged, the area attracted palaeontologists and eventually a dedicated museum, which moved to its current building beside the pit in the early 2000s. Today, research continues behind the scenes. New excavations, painstaking preparation of bones and scientific collaborations all flow from the material still coming out of the clay. Visiting the site, you glimpse this ongoing work through information panels and changing displays that highlight recent discoveries.

Planning your visit to a seasonal outdoor site

Gram Clay Pit is primarily a seasonal destination. The museum and organised activities usually run from April to October, when weather and light suit outdoor digging; the site is generally closed in winter. Clay and water make the pit muddy, especially after rain, so sturdy clothing is essential. Fortunately, the museum’s stock of boots and tools means you can travel light. The combination of indoor exhibition and outdoor quarry makes it easy to tailor a visit. You might spend a short time exploring the galleries before trying a quick dig, or devote several hours to a slow, methodical hunt broken up by museum breaks. Benches, simple facilities and the relatively flat surroundings support a relaxed day out in the name of deep time.