Latest news with #SwindonStegosaur
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Piece of UK's largest Stegosaur fossil returning ‘home'
A piece of a dinosaur discovered in Swindon has found a new home in the local museum and art gallery. Back in 1874, archaeologists uncovered original fossil remains in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company which were sent to Natural History Museum director Richard Owen and became the first example of a stegosaurus to be named and described by scientists. While a large part of the herbivorous 'Dacentrurus' dinosaur is currently on display in that London museum, , other smaller parts were taken away by private fossils hunters and dispersed into other collections. The team at Swindon's council-run museum, which is now based at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street, has recently acquired a vertebra bone which is believed to be from that prehistoric skeleton and was found for sale online by local fossil hunters Dr Neville and Sally Hollingworth. Your Community, Your News Subscribe to Swindon Advertiser now for either 50% off for a year or 3 months for £3. Stay connected with all local happenings. #CommunityNews #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) January 20, 2025 Sally and Neville have been working alongside volunteers and staff at Museum & Art Swindon on identifying parts of the museum's fossil collection through the Arts Council England-funded 'Unlocking Collections' project, and alerted staff to the fossil. The pair said: 'We saw this specimen for sale and realised its importance straight away. 'When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th Century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we instantly recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site where the skeleton was found. 'We're delighted that Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' The Brick and Tile Company site is now occupied by Halford's and The Range in Fleming Way and the green space at Spring Gardens. Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet member for Placemaking and Planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th Century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is coming home. 'I recently saw the stegosaur fossil in the Natural History Museum in London - it's great to see Swindon represented in one of the capital's most popular tourist destinations.' The stegosaur vertebra can be seen now at the museum's Swindon Rocks gallery. Later in the year, the vertebra will form part of the Arts Council England supported Fossil Hunters exhibition.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Truly unique find': part of Swindon Stegosaur returns to Wiltshire town
The spectacular remains of the first stegosaur to be described by scientists – discovered in a clay pit in Swindon in 1874 – are on display in the grand surroundings of the Natural History Museum in London. But 150 years on, a little piece of the Swindon Stegosaur has been returned to the Wiltshire town, after two fossil hunters spotted one of its vertebrae for sale on an online marketplace site. They alerted the council and it has gone on display at the local authority-run museum in Swindon, a reminder of the role the town played in one of the UK's most remarkable dinosaur discoveries. The fossil remains were found in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site in Fleming Way now occupied by shops and a gardens. They were sent off to Sir Richard Owen, then director of the Natural History Museum, for identification, and became the first stegosaur ever named and described by scientists. The remains – the hip, a back leg and parts of the backbone of the creature – are considered a 'roadmap' for understanding what stegosaur looked like, and can still be seen in London. Sally and Neville Hollingworth spotted the vertebra being offered for sale. The pair said: 'We realised its importance straight away. When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site. 'We're delighted Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon borough council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is home.' The vertebra can be seen now at the museum's Swindon Rocks gallery.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
‘Truly unique find': part of Swindon Stegosaur returns to Wiltshire town
The spectacular remains of the first stegosaur to be described by scientists – discovered in a clay pit in Swindon in 1874 – are on display in the grand surroundings of the Natural History Museum in London. But 150 years on, a little piece of the Swindon Stegosaur has been returned to the Wiltshire town, after two fossil hunters spotted one of its vertebrae for sale on an online marketplace site. They alerted the council and it has gone on display at the local authority-run museum in Swindon, a reminder of the role the town played in one of the UK's most remarkable dinosaur discoveries. The fossil remains were found in the clay pits of Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site in Fleming Way now occupied by shops and a gardens. They were sent off to Sir Richard Owen, then director of the Natural History Museum, for identification, and became the first stegosaur ever named and described by scientists. The remains – the hip, a back leg and parts of the backbone of the creature – are considered a 'roadmap' for understanding what stegosaur looked like, and can still be seen in London. Sally and Neville Hollingworth spotted the vertebra being offered for sale. The pair said: 'We realised its importance straight away. When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site. 'We're delighted Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past.' Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon borough council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: 'Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th century to look for specimens. 'The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it's fantastic that a piece of it is home.' The vertebra can be seen now at the museum's 'Swindon Rocks' gallery.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Bone from UK's largest stegosaur fossil returns home
A bone from the largest stegosaur fossil ever found in the UK is returning to its hometown The piece of vertebra is said to have come from a dinosaur discovered about 150 years ago in Swindon, which experts have said is the UK's most complete stegosaur skeleton. It will be on display at Museum & Art Swindon on Euclid Street. Swindon Borough Council councillor Marina Strinkovsky said: "It's fantastic that a piece of it is coming home." The fossil was first found in the quarry pit at Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site now occupied by Halford's and The Range on Fleming Way. While most of the Swindon Stegosaur remains on display at the Natural History Museum in London, smaller parts were taken by fossil hunters and dispersed into other collections. "Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th Century to look for specimens," Ms Strinkovsky said. "The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages," she added. Stegosaurs were large, armoured, herbivorous dinosaurs that lived roughly 150 million years ago. The latest artefact to join the council-run museum was found by palaeontologist Dr Neville Hollingworth and Sally Hollingworth, who have been working alongside museum volunteers and staff through the Arts Council England-funded 'Unlocking Collections' project. The pair said: "We saw this specimen for sale and realised its importance straight away. "When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th Century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we instantly recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site where the skeleton was found. "We're delighted that Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past," they added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Swindon's stegosaur still largest ever discovered 'Major dig' to start at mammoth graveyard in 2024 Museum & Art Swindon
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Bone from UK's largest stegosaur fossil returns to hometown
A bone from the largest stegosaur fossil ever found in the UK is returning to its hometownThe piece of vertebra is said to have come from a dinosaur discovered about 150 years ago in Swindon, which experts have said is the UK's most complete stegosaur will be on display at Museum & Art Swindon on Euclid Borough Council councillor Marina Strinkovsky said: "It's fantastic that a piece of it is coming home." The fossil was first found in the quarry pit at Swindon Brick and Tile Company in 1874, a site now occupied by Halford's and The Range on Fleming most of the Swindon Stegosaur remains on display at the Natural History Museum in London, smaller parts were taken by fossil hunters and dispersed into other collections. 'Ignites imagination' "Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th Century to look for specimens," Ms Strinkovsky said."The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages," she were large, armoured, herbivorous dinosaurs that lived roughly 150 million years ago. The latest artefact to join the council-run museum was found by palaeontologist Dr Neville Hollingworth and Sally Hollingworth, who have been working alongside museum volunteers and staff through the Arts Council England-funded 'Unlocking Collections' pair said: "We saw this specimen for sale and realised its importance straight away."When the Swindon Stegosaur was collected in the 19th Century some of the original material ended up in private collections and we instantly recognised that the vertebra offered for sale had come from the original site where the skeleton was found."We're delighted that Museum & Art Swindon has put this truly unique find from the town on display and, hopefully, this will help raise awareness about the town's Jurassic past," they added.
