About Subscribe Submit news Get in touch
 
Home Opinion In depth Video LIVE news Interviews Company profiles Events diary Jobs
Fossilised remains of 180-million-year-old ‘Sea Dragon’ found in the UK set to go on display | Planet Attractions
     

news

Fossilised remains of 180-million-year-old ‘Sea Dragon’ found in the UK set to go on display

Anglian Water is seeking funding for a Rutland-based display of the ‘Rutland sea dragon’, the UK’s largest ichthyosaur fossil discovered at the Rutland Water reservoir in 2021




The fossil is the largest ichthyosaur specimen found in the UK, measuring 10m in length and with a skull weighing a tonne   Credit: Anglian Water

The fossilised remains of a 180-million-year-old ichthyosaur dubbed the ‘Rutland sea dragon’ is set to go on display in the UK once the gargantuan fossil has been assembled.

Discovered at the Rutland Water Reserve in the Midlands, Anglian Water - which owns and operates the Rutland Water Reserve alongside Rutland County Council and Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust - is hoping to secure funding for a Rutland-based display either at the discovery site or the county museum.

“We recognise the significance a find like this will have for the local community in Rutland,” said Peter Simpson, CEO of Anglian Water. “Our focus now is to secure the right funding to guarantee its legacy will last into the future.”

Described as one of the ‘greatest finds in the history of British palaeontology’, the 180-million-year old ichthyosaur is the largest and most complete specimen ever found in the UK, with a 10m (32.9ft) -long skeleton and a skull weighing in at a tonne. It was discovered during a routine draining in February 2021.

Its excavation was led by Dr Dean Lomax, a palaeontologist from Manchester University, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The NLHF also provided funding to conserve the fossil, with preservation works led by palaeontological conservation specialist Nigel Larkin taking place over the next 12 - 18 months.

Speaking to The Guardian Dr Lomax said: “Despite the many ichthyosaur fossils found in Britain, it is remarkable to think that the Rutland ichthyosaur is the largest skeleton ever found in the UK. It’s a truly unprecedented discovery and one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history.”

“Usually we think of ichthyosaurs and other marine reptiles being discovered along the Jurassic coast in Dorset or the Yorkshire coast, where many of them are exposed by the erosion of the cliffs. Here at an inland location is very unusual,” Lomax told the BBC.

The excavation was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER


The fossil was discovered during a routine draining at the reservoir in February 2021   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER


Ichthyosaurs were warm-blooded, air-breathing mammals similar to dolphins. They became extinct 90 million years ago   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER



Museums and galleries

 

Disney agrees settlement with DeSantis backed board over Florida governance dispute





Merlin makes major acquisition of The Wheel at Icon Park





Saudi Arabia lands latest major IP with announcement of world-first Dragon Ball theme park




Industry insights



Spatial Sound, Immersive Audio: What is it and is it here to stay?



Video



WATCH: Steve Drake on accesso’s expanding portfolio


In Depth



Mundo Amazonia: Exploring Bellewaerde Park’s new themed area for 2024



© Kazoo 5 Limited 2024
About Subscribe Get in touch
 
Opinion In depth Interviews
LIVE news Profiles Diary Video
Jobs
Fossilised remains of 180-million-year-old ‘Sea Dragon’ found in the UK set to go on display | Planet Attractions
news

Fossilised remains of 180-million-year-old ‘Sea Dragon’ found in the UK set to go on display

Anglian Water is seeking funding for a Rutland-based display of the ‘Rutland sea dragon’, the UK’s largest ichthyosaur fossil discovered at the Rutland Water reservoir in 2021




The fossil is the largest ichthyosaur specimen found in the UK, measuring 10m in length and with a skull weighing a tonne   Credit: Anglian Water

The fossilised remains of a 180-million-year-old ichthyosaur dubbed the ‘Rutland sea dragon’ is set to go on display in the UK once the gargantuan fossil has been assembled.

Discovered at the Rutland Water Reserve in the Midlands, Anglian Water - which owns and operates the Rutland Water Reserve alongside Rutland County Council and Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust - is hoping to secure funding for a Rutland-based display either at the discovery site or the county museum.

“We recognise the significance a find like this will have for the local community in Rutland,” said Peter Simpson, CEO of Anglian Water. “Our focus now is to secure the right funding to guarantee its legacy will last into the future.”

Described as one of the ‘greatest finds in the history of British palaeontology’, the 180-million-year old ichthyosaur is the largest and most complete specimen ever found in the UK, with a 10m (32.9ft) -long skeleton and a skull weighing in at a tonne. It was discovered during a routine draining in February 2021.

Its excavation was led by Dr Dean Lomax, a palaeontologist from Manchester University, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The NLHF also provided funding to conserve the fossil, with preservation works led by palaeontological conservation specialist Nigel Larkin taking place over the next 12 - 18 months.

Speaking to The Guardian Dr Lomax said: “Despite the many ichthyosaur fossils found in Britain, it is remarkable to think that the Rutland ichthyosaur is the largest skeleton ever found in the UK. It’s a truly unprecedented discovery and one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history.”

“Usually we think of ichthyosaurs and other marine reptiles being discovered along the Jurassic coast in Dorset or the Yorkshire coast, where many of them are exposed by the erosion of the cliffs. Here at an inland location is very unusual,” Lomax told the BBC.

The excavation was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER


The fossil was discovered during a routine draining at the reservoir in February 2021   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER


Ichthyosaurs were warm-blooded, air-breathing mammals similar to dolphins. They became extinct 90 million years ago   CREDIT: ANGLIAN WATER



 



© Kazoo 5 Limited 2024