Man Discovers 70-Million-Year-Old Titanosaur Fossil in France
In a small village in southern France, a remarkable discovery was made by a young man named Damien Boschetto. Two years ago, while taking his dog for a walk in the forests of Montouliers near his home in Cruzy, Boschetto stumbled upon a massive fossil that turned out to be a nearly complete skeleton of a long-necked titanosaur. This astonishing find, which dates back 70 million years, has been kept a secret until now.
Cruzy, the village where Boschetto resides, is known for its rich fossil deposits from the Upper Cretaceous period. For nearly three decades, it has been a hub for collecting and building one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in France. The territory around Cruzy is teeming with fossils of dinosaurs and other species that lived during the same era.
Titanosaurs, members of the sauropod dinosaur family, were colossal creatures that roamed the Earth from the Late Jurassic Epoch to the end of the Cretaceous Period. These long-necked dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial animals known to have existed, with some growing to the size of modern whales. Fossils of titanosaurs have been discovered on all continents except Antarctica, comprising around 40 different species.
Boschetto, a self-taught paleontology enthusiast, stumbled upon exposed bone fossils during an ordinary morning walk with his dog. A landslide on the edge of a cliff had revealed the bones of various skeletons. Recognizing their significance, Boschetto and members of the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association (ACAP) at the Cruzy Museum decided to keep the findings under wraps to protect the site while they conducted excavations.
The excavation process was no easy feat. The fossilized bones were embedded in sandstone, an extremely hard sediment that required meticulous care and expertise to extract. Boschetto and the ACAP team were concerned that the site would be pillaged or damaged by individuals who lacked knowledge of proper excavation techniques. Their priority was to ensure the preservation of this extraordinary find.
Now, after two years of careful excavation and protection, the fossilized titanosaur is being studied by the ACAP at the Cruzy Museum. The skeleton, which is approximately 70% complete and measures 30 feet in length, is a flagship piece that Boschetto hopes will attract visitors to the museum. He believes that allowing the general public to admire a dinosaur in anatomical connection is a remarkable opportunity.
Since his discovery, Boschetto has made a life-changing decision. He left his job in the energy sector and plans to pursue a master’s degree in paleontology to further his work in Cruzy. His exceptional find has garnered praise from Francis Fage, the founder of the Cruzy Museum, who commends Boschetto’s keen eye for dinosaur research. Fage notes that it is incredibly rare to come across such a significant site and that many seasoned researchers have spent decades without making a similar discovery.
Damien Boschetto’s remarkable find has not only shed light on the rich paleontological history of Cruzy but has also opened doors for further exploration and research in the field of paleontology. As the titanosaurs continue to captivate scientists and enthusiasts alike, this discovery serves as a testament to the wonders that lie hidden beneath our feet, waiting to be unearthed and shared with the world.
