Rare and Intact Titanosaur Skeleton Discovered in Southern France
In a thrilling discovery, an almost complete dinosaur skeleton has been unearthed in southern France. The massive fossil, identified as a Titanosaur skeleton, was found connected from its hind skull to its tail. This remarkable find was made by 25-year-old amateur paleontologist Damien Boschetto and his dog while they were walking in a forest in Montouliers, France. Boschetto noticed a cliff edge that had recently collapsed and decided to investigate further. To his surprise, he spotted an exposed bone sticking out of the ground.
The Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association at the Cruzy Museum, in collaboration with the French National Center for Scientific Research, played a crucial role in identifying and excavating the nearly 10-meter-long fossil. Boschetto, who has been a member of the association for eight years, expressed his excitement about the discovery, stating that finding the bones in their almost original anatomical position is what makes this find extraordinary. He also emphasized the significance of presenting the almost complete animal to the general public in its anatomical position.
The Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association was established in 1975 to safeguard the heritage around the village of Cruzy. The association consists of history and archaeology enthusiasts who have become enlightened amateurs in paleontology due to the abundance of dinosaur fossils in the region. Jean-Marc Veyssières, a member of the group and one of the fossil preparers for this discovery, highlighted the thrill of finding an anatomically connected Titanosaur skeleton. He praised Boschetto’s expertise and dedication to surveying the region in search of new areas.
The excavation site, referred to as a bone bed, has been under investigation by the association for the past two years. Alongside the recently revealed Titanosaur skeleton, several fossils of various dinosaurs and other vertebrates have been retrieved. These include a Rhabdodon, a herbivorous dinosaur similar to the Titanosaur, as well as fragments from carnivores such as Theropods and crocodiles. The Titanosaur skeleton is currently housed in the Cruzy Museum’s laboratory, where further study will take place.
Researchers estimate the age of the fossil to be around 70 to 72 million years old. Titanosaurs, which belong to the sauropod family of long-necked herbivores, roamed the Earth from the Late Jurassic Epoch to the end of the Cretaceous Period. While Titanosaur fossils are commonly found in Europe, discovering a skeleton in an anatomically connected state is rare. This suggests that the body was buried before complete decomposition, leaving some tissues connecting the bones. Matthew Carrano, a research geologist and curator of Dinosauria at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, believes that the completeness of the specimen will provide important new information about this group of dinosaurs.
The region where the fossil was discovered is known for its abundance of dinosaur fossils and other species from the same time period. Boschetto expressed his hope that the association will continue its research on the fossils and expand their search in the area. The ultimate goal is to secure funding for a large-scale museum that can accommodate and present these remarkable collections.
This rare and intact Titanosaur skeleton discovery in southern France is not only a thrilling find for paleontologists but also an opportunity to educate and inspire the general public about the incredible creatures that once roamed our planet. The painstaking excavation and preservation efforts by the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association have ensured that this remarkable specimen will contribute valuable knowledge to our understanding of dinosaurs and their ecosystems.