Amateur Paleontologist Discovers Rare Titanosaur Skeleton in Southern France
In a small town in southern France, a remarkable discovery has been made by an amateur paleontologist named Damien Boschetto. While taking his dog, Muffin, for a walk in a nearby forest, Boschetto stumbled upon a bone protruding from an eroded cliff. Little did he know that this bone would lead to the uncovering of a rare and nearly complete titanosaur skeleton.
Titanosaurs, a classification of long-necked dinosaurs, were some of the largest creatures to ever roam the Earth. With over 30 varieties, these massive creatures could reach up to 70 tons and 85 feet in length. The discovery made by Boschetto is particularly significant because titanosaurs are not commonly found in Europe.
Boschetto, who studied paleontology in college, has had previous success in discovering dinosaur bones. However, this find holds a special place in his heart. “This is not my first attempt,” Boschetto shared. “I have already discovered many dinosaur bones, but it is of course always an excitement to discover new bones.”
The excavation of the titanosaur skeleton was kept secret initially to protect the archaeological site. Boschetto and a local archaeological team worked diligently for two years, with Muffin by their side, to carefully unearth the fossil. The skeleton, which is estimated to be about 70 percent complete, is missing the skull and a femur. The team hopes to locate these missing pieces in future excavations.
The process of extracting the skeleton from the sediment layer of hard-packed sandstone was slow and meticulous. Boschetto explained that the sediment level indicates that the dinosaur lived approximately 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous era. The team continues to study the fossil in order to determine its age and the specific type of titanosaur it belonged to.
Once the work is completed, the titanosaur skeleton will be displayed at the Cruzy Museum, a small local museum where Boschetto has been volunteering for the past few years. The museum’s director, Francis Fages, expressed his admiration for Boschetto’s contributions to paleontology. “Since Damien Boschetto joined the museum and the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association (ACAP), he has contributed a lot to the paleontology of our collections, which is important for the future,” Fages stated.
Boschetto’s passion for paleontology has led him to make a life-changing decision. In September, he left his job in the energy sector to pursue his avocation full-time. He applied to a college in Paris that has a campus in Cruzy to obtain a master’s degree in paleontology. The recent discovery of the titanosaur skeleton has only strengthened his commitment to scientific research and his resumption of studies in paleontology.
Despite his newfound dedication to paleontology, Boschetto remains loyal to his faithful companion, Muffin. He plans to continue searching for fossils around Cruzy with Muffin by his side. “I continue to search our sites around Cruzy and study these fauna — with Muffin, of course!” Boschetto exclaimed. It seems that this dynamic duo will continue their adventures together, unearthing the secrets of the past one bone at a time.
