Montouliers, France – A remarkable discovery was made in southern France by amateur paleontologist Damien Boschetto and his dog, where they stumbled upon an almost complete dinosaur skeleton. The fossil, identified as a Titanosaur, was found with its hind skull connected to its tail, shedding light on the ancient creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago.
The chance discovery occurred in May 2022 when Boschetto noticed a cliff edge collapse in a forest near Montouliers. Upon closer inspection, he spotted an exposed bone protruding from the ground, leading to the excavation of the nearly 10-meter-long fossil by the Archaeological and Paleontological Cultural Association at the Cruzy Museum in collaboration with the French National Center for Scientific Research.
This find, described as extraordinary by Boschetto, offers a unique opportunity for researchers to study the dinosaur remains in their original anatomical position, furthering scientific understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. The association, founded in 1975 to protect the heritage around Cruzy, has transformed enthusiasts into amateur paleontologists due to the region’s abundance of dinosaur fossils.
Members of the association, including Boschetto and Jean-Marc Veyssières, expressed excitement over the connected Titanosaur skeleton and its implications for paleontological research. The bone bed where the fossils were found has been under excavation for the past two years, revealing a variety of dinosaur remains including herbivores like the Titanosaur and carnivores like Theropods and crocodiles.
The Titanosaur skeleton, estimated to be around 70 to 72 million years old, offers a glimpse into the Late Cretaceous period when these massive creatures roamed the earth. The completeness of the specimen raises the possibility of identifying a new species or gaining new insights into known species, according to research geologist Matthew Carrano.
The rich fossil deposits in the region hold promise for future discoveries, with Boschetto and his colleagues planning to continue their research and potentially establish a museum to showcase their findings. The careful excavation and preservation of the Titanosaur skeleton demonstrate the dedication of these amateur paleontologists to unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric life.