SKELETON IN CEMENT QUARRY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1929, Page 8

SKELETON IN CEMENT QUARRY

FIND FOR BRITISH AIUSEUAI. The British Museum is to secure possession of the skeleton of a prehistoric monster found by workmen in a cement quarry at Harbury, AA’arwicksbire. At the request of the owners. Air Swinton, of the Geology Department, inspected t'lie skeleton. Nearly 30ft in length and 10ft across at the widest part, the skeleton is believed to lie that of an ichthyosaurus though the museum authorities are not yet able to confirm this. The ichthyosaurus, as its name ini plies (Greek, “ fish reptile ”). was a monster of the Mesozoic seas. Tts body was in fislHl'ormation, the limbs like paddles, and the tail long and lizard-like. Some thirty specimens have been excavated throughout the world. Last year a plciosaur, another sea monster, was found on the same site as the present discovery. The new skeleton is being reconstructed. a long and highly skille’ 1 operation, at the museum. Balanced on steel struts, the details of the spine are refasten.ed with plaster, and lost portions filled in with the same mateiial. The fossils, which are found under shale, are coated with limestone, wlihh has to be removed—a delicate process, for the matrix of limestone is harder than the fossilised bone it contains. Should the present find come up to expectations, it will be the lirst ichthyosaurus found in AYarwickshire since the Stockton discovery of twenty years