Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Entertainment

Gigantic Sea Monster Skull Found On Dorset’s ‘Jurassic Coast’ Cliffs – One America News Network


BRITAIN-EROSION-COAST
An advisory notice is seen on the beach close to the scene of a coastal cliff fall on Dorset's Jurassic Coast near the village of Seatown, on the south west coast of England on April 26, 2021. (Photo by BEN STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-EROSION-COAST An advisory notice is seen on the beach close to the scene of a coastal cliff fall on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast near the village of Seatown, on the south west coast of England on April 26, 2021. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
2:54 PM – Tuesday, December 12, 2023

The skull of a massive pliosaur, a prehistoric sea monster, was found on a beach in the county of Dorset in southern England.

Advertisement

When dinosaurs once roamed the land, plesiosaurs reportedly ruled the seas with an estimated age of 150 million years, the discovered fossil is nearly 3 million years younger than any other pliosaur discovery.

The specimen is being examined by researchers to see if it might even represent a previously undiscovered species.

The fossil was discovered in the spring of 2022, and details about its intricate excavation and continuing scientific study are now included in the upcoming BBC documentary “Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster,” which will be hosted by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough and air on PBS on February 14th.

Local paleontologist Steve Etches, who assisted in its discovery, told the press via video conference that the fossil was buried deep in the cliff, roughly 36 feet above the ground and 49 feet down the cliff.

The crew had to work quickly to extract the fossil during a brief window of favorable weather before summer storms closed in and the cliff collapsed, potentially removing the important and rare fossil.

When Etches’ friend Philip Jacobs called him after finding the pliosaur’s snout on the beach, he was first informed that the fossil existed.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“Its jaws closed together which indicates (the fossil) is complete,” Etches said, adding that they were immediately “quite excited.”

Following a three-week operation in which they chipped away at the cliff while suspended in midair, Etches and his team used drones to map the cliff and pinpoint the exact location of the remaining pliosaur.

“It’s a miracle we got it out,” he said, “because we had one last day to get this thing out, which we did at 9:30 p.m.”

The task of meticulously restoring the skull fell to Etches. The mud and bone had cracked at one point, which he found “very disillusioning,” but “over the following days and weeks, it was a case of like a jigsaw, putting it all back.” “Though it took a while, we were able to replace every bone.”

Etches continued, calling the fossil’s continued good health a “freak of nature.” It died in an ideal habitat with significant sedimentation. Thus, it was quickly buried when it died and descended to the seafloor.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

Share this post!




By: OAN

Loading

Advertisement
Comments

You May Also Like

Elon Musk

In a stunning display of political irony, over 20,000 protesters filled the streets of downtown Boston today to oppose President Donald Trump’s aggressive push...

Elon Musk

Tech mogul Elon Musk is once again making headlines — not for rockets or AI — but for his unapologetic warning about the dangers...

Crime

In a shocking and bizarre twist, newly released documents reveal that Christina Formella, the 30-year-old married Illinois teacher accused of r*ping her 15-year-old student,...

Transgender

In a fiery exchange on his podcast, Dr. Phil found himself under attack from transgender activist Blossom Brown, who accused the longtime psychologist of...

President Trump

President Donald J. Trump has confirmed that the United States military has carried out a targeted strike on Houthi forces who were reportedly “gathered...

Karoline Leavitt

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a fiery takedown of a federal judge who ordered President Trump to return an alleged MS-13 gang...

Crime

Authorities are on the lookout for a suspect involved in a disturbing act of vandalism on a Tesla earlier this week. The individual, described...

CNN

In a significant acknowledgment of the Trump administration’s economic achievements, CNN reported on the impressive milestones reached during 2019, showcasing the strength and prosperity...

Advertisement
Back