First Dinosaur Bone Found in Antarctica Confirmed
The Facts
- A fossil collected in 1985 on James Ross Island, Antarctica, and stored in the geology collection of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in Cambridge, has been confirmed as the first dinosaur bone ever found on the continent.
- Dr. Mark Evans, collections manager at BAS, rediscovered the specimen while reviewing thousands of Antarctic expedition samples. Geologist Dr. Mike Thomson had originally logged it on Dec. 9, 1985, sketching it and describing it as the "vertebra of a large reptile" measuring about 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) across.
- Prof. Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum confirmed the fossil is a tail vertebra from a Titanosaur, citing its distinctive ball-and-socket joint structure as "completely unique to these types of dinosaurs."
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The Spin
Narrative A
A fossil pulled from a Cambridge drawer after 40 years is now confirmed as Antarctica's first dinosaur bone — a titanosaur vertebra from James Ross Island, dated to 82 million years ago. Given Antarctica's challenging research conditions and sparse fossil record, the find will help scientists reconstruct how life thrived at the bottom of the world when it was blanketed in lush forest, while also helping explain how these animals fitted into broader ecosystems during the Late Cretaceous.
Narrative B
The rediscovered titanosaur tail bone highlights just how sparse Antarctica's fossil record remains. Scientists say it is only the second known dinosaur from the Santa Marta Formation, underscoring how few specimens exist from the region. Researchers believe many more remains are likely still buried beneath Antarctica’s ice, waiting to be uncovered as techniques improve and access to exposed rock expands.
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