Chunks of fragile rock containing a turkey-sized dinosaur that became extinct 200 million years ago have been sent halfway around the world for space-age tests to reveal how it ate, moved and breathed.
The ancient remains of two Heterodontosaurus were found in a rural Eastern Cape riverbed by Grahamstown paleontologist Professor Billy de Klerk a few years after he was given a crude, hand-drawn map by a friend who suspected the area was a fossil treasure trove.
Starting with a few exposed bones, the men cut out the rock and found a treasure trove, including a second Heterodontosaurus 200m away.
Although he has been collecting fossils for decades, De Klerk said he “still got excited” whenever he made a find.
“Any fossil revs my engine!”
The chunks of hard rock were taken to the Albany Museum by De Klerk who spent years meticulously cleaning the fragile bones as best he could by hand before sending them to Wits University for computed tomography (CT) scans.
More powerful than a hospital CT scanner, the high-tech equipment gives scientists a better understanding of what is inside rocks which they cannot remove.
Unfortunately, scientists were unable to get a clear picture as metallic substances in the rock showed up bright white, obscuring the finer details paleontologists were hoping to find.
The bones of the peculiar-looking herbivore, which had grinding teeth in the back of the jaw and big canines in front, were sent last week to the European Synchrotron in France as part of an ongoing collaboration with South African scientists. The visit was made possible by National Research Foundation funding and a team of South African scientists travelled with the fossil.
The discovery is significant as it boosts the number of Heterodontosaurus discovered worldwide to five and includes the second full skeleton of the species.
Maclennan, who gave up journalism to farm in Dordrecht, yesterday said the journey of the rare fossil from the Eastern Cape hinterland to France for testing was amazing.
“It is quite extraordinary how they can find the finest details deep inside the rock.
Maclennan, who is chairman of the Dordrecht Museum committee, said they had a full resin cast of the skull which they would put on display with other local fossil finds.
Describing himself as a “very amateur paleontologist”, Maclennan said his interest was sparked almost 30 years ago when he found his first one while hiking in the fossil-rich hills near Dordrecht. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Big fossil find off to France
The ancient remains of two Heterodontosaurus were found in a rural Eastern Cape riverbed by Grahamstown paleontologist Professor Billy de Klerk a few years after he was given a crude, hand-drawn map by a friend who suspected the area was a fossil treasure trove.
Starting with a few exposed bones, the men cut out the rock and found a treasure trove, including a second Heterodontosaurus 200m away.
Although he has been collecting fossils for decades, De Klerk said he “still got excited” whenever he made a find.
“Any fossil revs my engine!”
The chunks of hard rock were taken to the Albany Museum by De Klerk who spent years meticulously cleaning the fragile bones as best he could by hand before sending them to Wits University for computed tomography (CT) scans.
More powerful than a hospital CT scanner, the high-tech equipment gives scientists a better understanding of what is inside rocks which they cannot remove.
Unfortunately, scientists were unable to get a clear picture as metallic substances in the rock showed up bright white, obscuring the finer details paleontologists were hoping to find.
The bones of the peculiar-looking herbivore, which had grinding teeth in the back of the jaw and big canines in front, were sent last week to the European Synchrotron in France as part of an ongoing collaboration with South African scientists. The visit was made possible by National Research Foundation funding and a team of South African scientists travelled with the fossil.
The discovery is significant as it boosts the number of Heterodontosaurus discovered worldwide to five and includes the second full skeleton of the species.
Maclennan, who gave up journalism to farm in Dordrecht, yesterday said the journey of the rare fossil from the Eastern Cape hinterland to France for testing was amazing.
“It is quite extraordinary how they can find the finest details deep inside the rock.
Maclennan, who is chairman of the Dordrecht Museum committee, said they had a full resin cast of the skull which they would put on display with other local fossil finds.
Describing himself as a “very amateur paleontologist”, Maclennan said his interest was sparked almost 30 years ago when he found his first one while hiking in the fossil-rich hills near Dordrecht. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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