Ellie Ames 29 January 2025

Bone from Swindon Stegosaur returns to local museum

Bone from Swindon Stegosaur returns to local museum image
Image: Swindon BC

A bone believed to be part of the first stegosaur to be named by scientists is returning to Swindon, where it was unearthed more than 150 years ago.

Museum and Art Swindon, run by the local council, has acquired a vertebra thought to be part of the Swindon Stegosaur, which was discovered in a clay pit in the Wiltshire town in 1874.

Upon discovery, the remains were sent to the Natural History Museum, where the dinosaur was identified as a herbivorous Dacentrurus, the first example of a stegosaur, and where most of the bones remain on display.

But fossil hunters Dr Neville and Sally Hollingworth spotted a vertebra online advertised as originating from the Swindon Stegosaur and alerted Swindon Borough Council, which has put the bone on display.

The council’s cabinet member for placemaking and planning, Marina Strinkovsky, said: ‘Swindon was really important in the history of palaeontology and loads of important fossil hunters lived here or visited Swindon in the late 19th Century to look for specimens.

‘The stegosaur ignites the imagination of Swindonians of all ages, and it’s fantastic that a piece of it is coming home.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Residential Worker

Essex County Council
£27934.00 - £35344.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Residential WorkerPermanent, Full Time£27,934 up to £35,344 Per Annum (includes allowance) equal to £14.48 to £18.32 Per HourLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Early Years Keyworker

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£37,068 - £38,058
Want to make a difference for children with special educational needs in Greenwich? Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Early Years Area SENCo

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£39,855 - £42,324
Have you got extensive experience in working within Early Years, with a clear understanding of child development Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Young Persons Substance Misuse Service Pathfinder

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£31,524 - £32,931
Are you looking to change the lives of young people? Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Senior Regulatory Compliance Officer

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£37,068 - £38,058
You will be an apprentice embedded within the Trading Standards team. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich
Linkedin Banner