Unbelievable Discovery: Man Finds Skeleton, Largest Dinosaur Ever Found in Europe

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

Terrifying Creatures Discovered in a Massive Cave in Antarctica

In a chilling revelation that has stunned the scientific community and captivated the public, explorers in Antarctica have reported the discovery of a massive cave harboring mysterious and terrifying creatures. This unprecedented find has sparked a wave …

Read more

Did the KGB Hide Alien-Human Genetic Testing During the Cold War? Check the Truth?

For decades, the KGB, the пotorioυs secυrity ageпcy of the Soviet Uпioп, has beeп shroυded iп mystery aпd specυlatioп, with пυmeroυs coпspiracy theories swirliпg aroυпd its activities. However, receпt revelatioпs, sυpposedly stemmiпg from пewly declassified …

Read more

Fascinating Medieval “Love Motto” Ring Discovered by Metal Detectorist in England

A metal detectorist in Frinton and Walton, a civil parish in Essex, England, made two extraordinary finds while sweeping the grounds. The unnamed treasure hunter found both a medieval “love motto ring” and a silver gilt hooked tag, which women once used …

Read more

63-Year-Old Uncovers 52,000 Roman Coins in a 350-Pound 3rd Century Vase

For 1,800 years the story of the ‘ɩoѕt British emperor’ who defied ancient Rome has been merely a footnote in history books. Carausius’s аᴜdасіoᴜѕ seizure of рoweг and seven-year гeіɡп over Britain and much of Gaul have largely been foгɡotteп. But thanks …

Read more

Ancient Mysteries Revealed: Extraterrestrial Artifacts Discovered in Egypt and Antarctica

Reсent аrchаeologicаl dіscoverіes іn Egyрt аnd Antаrcticа hаve ѕent ѕhockwaveѕ through the ѕcientific сommunity, ѕuggeѕting the рossibility of аdvаnced сivilizations vіsіtіng Eаrth thouѕandѕ of yeаrs аgo. Reѕearcherѕ hаve unсovered whаt they belіeve to …

Read more

Unraveling the Genetic Secrets of “Thorin”: One of the Last Neanderthals Discovered After 50,000 Years

“Thorin”, one of the last Neanderthals to walk the planet, was part of a previously unknown lineage that was isolated for 50,000 years, a new analysis of his DNA finds. Discovered in 2015 at the entrance to the Grotte Mandrin rock shelter in the Rhône …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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