Scientists Uncover a Huge Trove of Dinosaur Fossils in Antarctica
Over a ton of 71 million-year-old fossils.
Over a ton of dinosaur fossils from 71 million years ago were recently discovered in Antarctica, scientists said.
The fossils are largely of marine dinosaurs, most notably those from a mosasaurus, the giant creature seen devouring all manner of things in Jurassic World, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The expedition, which lasted from February to March, took place on the James Ross Island, hundreds of miles south of Chile.
The James Ross Island is part of the Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost section of the continent. Rocks there are exposed every summer, allowing the scientists—a team of 12—to conduct their research.
The expedition on Antarctica was grueling, one of them told ABC, but even harder may have been getting there. Previous research trips were scuttled after the scientists ran into too much sea ice in the Drake Passage.
“It’s a very hard place to work, but it’s an even harder place to get to,” Steve Salisbury, of the University of Queensland, told ABC.
The fossils are currently in Chile but will eventually make their way to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.
“A lot of the bigger bones will need quite a bit of preparation before we can do much research on them,” Salisbury told ABC.
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook