Man Discovers Largest Dinosaur Skeleton Ever Found in Europe in His Backyard

Imagine waking up one fine day, only to find out that one of the most gigantic creatures to have ever walked the Earth once resided in your backyard.

image

The research carried out at the Monte Agudo paleontological site underlines the importance of the fossil record of vertebrates in the Pombal region (Portugal). Image credit: Instituto Dom Luiz (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon)

That’s exactly what happened to a man from the city of Pombal in Portugal, while carrying out some construction work in his garden back in 2017. He discovered fragments of fossilized bones of what looked like a enormous dinosaur!

The man than contacted researchers from the University of Lisbon, who began unearthing the vertebrae and ribs of what they think is a brachiosaurid sauropod – a herbivorous, long-necked quadrupedal dinosaur – earlier this month. The gigantic, 39-foot-tall sauropod – probably the biggest of all dinosaurs and the largest land animal ever to have lived – roamed this area during the Late Jurassic Period about 160 to 100 million years ago.

image

Researchers excavate the fossilized ribs of a sauropod at the Monte Agudo paleontological site in Pombal, Portugal. Image credit: Instituto Dom Luiz (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal)

Given the natural position that the skeleton was found in, paleontologists are hopeful that further excavation may uncover more parts of the same dinosaur.

“It is not common for all of an animal’s ribs to be preserved in this condition, much less in their original anatomical position. This preservation method is relatively uncommon in the fossil record of dinosaurs, especially sauropods, from the Portuguese Upper Jurassic,” says Elizabeth Malafaya, University of Lisbon, Portugal (Ciencias Ulísboa) Graduate Researcher, Faculty of Science.

image

The sauropod’s ribs were preserved in their original anatomical position. Image credit: Instituto Dom Luiz (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal)

The fossils were found in Upper Jurassic sedimentary rocks, suggesting they are about 150m years old.

“[This discovery] confirms that the region of Pombal has an important fossil record of Late Jurassic vertebrates, which in the last decades has provided the discovery of abundant materials very significant for the knowledge of the continental faunas that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula at about 145m years ago,” Malafaia added.

Parts of the unearthed remains are yet to be treated in a laboratory to remove all the sediments. Once that’s done, further studies will be conducted for accurate identification and exhibition.

Related Posts

13-Million-Year-Old Fossil Skeleton of 73-Foot Female Blue Whale Unearthed!

Paleontologists have ᴜпeагtһed the 13-million-year-old fossil ѕkeɩetoп of a 73-foot-long female blue whale , one of the largest and most remarkable prehistoric discoveries of its kind. The fossilized remains of this ancient whale offer a гагe glimpse …

Read more

34-Million-Year-Old Whale Skeleton Discovered at Jougla Point, Antarctic Peninsula!

At Jougla Point , near Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula , paleontologists have ᴜпeагtһed the fossilized ѕkeɩetoп of a 34-million-year-old whale . This extгаoгdіпагу discovery provides a гагe glimpse into the ancient marine life that once thrived …

Read more

Scientist Assembles 4,500-Year-Old Sperm Whale Skeleton in Loenen, Netherlands!

In a fascinating project, a scientist in Loenen, Netherlands , is meticulously arranging the ѕkeɩetoп of a sperm whale that is over 4,500 years old . This remarkable find sheds light on the ancient marine ecosystems and the history of these magnificent …

Read more

New Dinosaur Footprints Found in Arkansas, Estimated to Be 76 Million Years Old!

Scientists have recently uncovered new dinosaur footprints in Arkansas, dating back approximately 76 million years. These fossilized tracks, discovered in an area not previously known for dinosaur activity, provide valuable insight into the region’s ancient …

Read more

Complete Female Ichthyosaur Skeleton from the Early Jurassic, 184 Million Years Ago!

A complete and articulated ѕkeɩetoп of a female Stenopterygius quadriscissus , commonly known as an ichthyosaur, has been discovered, dating back to the Early Jurassic period about 184 million years ago. This marine reptile, resembling modern-day dolphins, …

Read more

45-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Bones at Dinosaur National Monument!

At the Quarry Exhibit Hall, located within Dinosaur National Monument on the border of Utah and Colorado, visitors can view 45-million-year-old dinosaur bones embedded in the rock. This remarkable site is home to an extensive fossil bed that showcases …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *