In southern France, a rare discovery recently came to light: an almost complete dinosaur skeleton stretching from its hind skull to its tail.
The uncovering of this massive fossil occurred in May 2022 when Damien Boschetto, a 25-year-old amateur paleontologist, and his dog were exploring a forest in Montouliers, France. Their attention was drawn to a collapsed cliff edge, prompting Boschetto to investigate further. To his astonishment, he spotted an exposed bone protruding from the ground. This discovery was first reported by local media outlet France Bleu on February 13.
Upon excavation, the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association at the Cruzy Museum, in collaboration with the French National Center for Scientific Research, confirmed the fossil’s identity as a Titanosaur skeleton. Boschetto, who has been involved with the association for eight years, emphasized the significance of finding the bones in nearly their original anatomical position, describing it as extraordinary for scientific research and understanding the ancient ecosystems.
Boschetto also noted the potential of this discovery for museography, highlighting how it could offer the public a glimpse of almost complete animals in their natural anatomical poses, which he finds particularly exciting.
In May 2022, the significant fossil find occurred when a cliff edge collapse exposed a bone, as recounted by Damien Boschetto.
A team of history and archaeology enthusiasts established the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association in 1975 to protect the heritage surrounding Cruzy village. Jean-Marc Veyssieres, a member of the group and one of the preparers for this fossil discovery, explained how the region’s abundant dinosaur fossils led several members to become amateur paleontologists. Presently, the association comprises locals, including scientists and students.
Veyssieres highlighted the excitement of discovering an anatomically connected titanosaur, describing Boschetto as a passionate nature enthusiast who extensively explores the region. Boschetto’s expertise in the Late Cretaceous fauna of the area has grown over time.
Over the past two years, the association has been excavating the site, known as a bone bed, where the latest discovery was made. This recent find adds to Boschetto’s previous discoveries.
The newly recovered Titanosaur skeleton, comprising 70% completeness, was unearthed during the excavation, alongside various dinosaur fossils and other vertebrates. Notable among these were a Rhabdodon, a herbivorous dinosaur akin to the Titanosaur, and fragments from carnivore skeletons such as Theropods and crocodiles, according to Boschetto.
The Titanosaur skeleton now resides in the laboratory of the Cruzy Museum, where further studies will be conducted, as stated by Veyssieres.
Damien Boschetto (left) and Jean-Marc Veyssieres (right) are part of the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association affiliated with the Cruzy Museum, where the fossil is currently housed. – Damien Boschetto© Provided by CNN
Intact Titanosaur Uncovered
The age of the recently discovered fossil is estimated to be approximately 70 to 72 million years old. However, Titanosaurs roamed the Earth on all fours from the Late Jurassic Epoch until the conclusion of the Cretaceous Period, spanning from about 163.5 million to 66 million years ago. Titanosaurs were members of the sauropod family, a group of long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs that ranked among the largest creatures of their era.
While Titanosaur fossils are frequently found across Europe, it is rare to uncover them in anatomical connection, according to Boschetto. The discovery of a skeleton in such a connected state indicates that the organism was interred before complete decomposition, with “some tissues linking the bones together,” as explained by Matthew Carrano, a research geologist and curator of Dinosauria at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.
“The completeness of the specimen will facilitate the determination of whether it represents a new species or a new individual of an already known species,” mentioned Carrano in correspondence. “Although it will require time to unravel all the intricacies surrounding this newfound specimen, I am confident it will yield significant insights into this dinosaur group.”
The locality where Boschetto made the discovery is renowned for its abundance of dinosaur fossils and coexisting species from the same era, contributing to the establishment of one of France’s most extensive collections of Upper Cretaceous dinosaurs,” he noted. Boschetto emphasized that the association refrained from publicizing the discovery until the excavation concluded, aiming to safeguard the archaeological site.
Moving forward, the association intends to persist in fossil research and expand exploration efforts in the region, with hopes of securing funding to establish “a comprehensive museum capable of housing and showcasing these collections,” Boschetto conveyed.