Steve Etches stumbled upon the massive skull of an ancient aquatic reptile, surpassing the length of most humans, on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset in southwest England. The well-preserved fossil belongs to a pliosaur, a giant marine creature that existed around 150 million years ago, known for its substantial size, powerful jaws, and short neck. This remarkably intact skull, discovered by chance, will be exclusively featured in a David Attenborough program on BBC One on New Year’s Day.
The 74-year-old fossil enthusiast, Etches, who has been collecting fossils for 40 years, and fellow enthusiast Phil Jacobs found the pliosaur’s snout tip on a beach near Kimmeridge Bay. They fashioned a makeshift stretcher to transport the heavy fossil fragment to a secure location. A subsequent drone survey revealed the remaining parts of the skull embedded in a cliff 15 meters above a beach.
The challenging task of extracting the skull from the high cliff prompted collaboration with experts from other universities. The team, suspended on ropes from the deteriorating cliff, successfully excavated the skull, revealing one of the most well-preserved pliosaur fossils. A documentary will delve into the details of this risky effort to recover the massive skull from the eroding cliff.
Steve Etches expressed his excitement about the find, noting, “It’s one of the best fossils I’ve ever worked on. What makes it unique is it’s complete.” The lower jaw and upper skull are intricately preserved, making it a rare specimen with every bone intact.
Described as the “ultimate killing machine” of the dinosaur era, pliosaurs boasted an imposing bite force, evident in the fossil’s large conical teeth. The 130 teeth showcased in the fossil offer additional insight into the creature’s anatomy. Adult pliosaurs were estimated to measure 10-12 meters in length, equipped with four powerful flipper-like appendages for swift movement in water.
The fossilized skull is destined for display at the local Etches Collection museum, which houses an impressive collection of 2,800 fossils from the Kimmeridge Bay area. While the team believes that other parts of the creature may still be buried in the cliff rocks, they emphasize that examining this skull alone could unveil numerous details about the ancient predator.
