A Journey Back to the Dinosaur Era
The Cotswolds village of Kings Stanley has become an archaeological goldmine, revealing a treasure trove of fossils dating back to the Jurassic Era, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These ancient remnants were unearthed from the seemingly ordinary fields of Court Farm, owned by Adam Knight, a local farmer.
Uncovering a Jurassic Sea Bed
A team of dedicated palaeontologists embarked on an extraordinary excavation, unveiling a wealth of remarkably preserved fossils, including fish, marine reptiles, squids, and rare insects. These discoveries suggest that the area was once submerged beneath a vast Jurassic sea, stretching across the region near Worcestershire.
A Window into the Past
The layers of limestone that have protected these fossils for millions of years have preserved intricate details, allowing researchers to study the ancient creatures in unprecedented detail. Photographs of the fish fossils reveal their eyeballs, scales, and fins, frozen in time with astonishing clarity.
One of the most remarkable finds was the head of a Pachycormus, a Jurassic fish species that swam in these ancient waters. Dr. Dean Lomax, a palaeontologist and visiting scientist at The University of Manchester, expressed his awe at the site’s significance:
“The site is quite remarkable, with numerous beautifully preserved fossils of ancient animals that once lived in a Jurassic sea that covered this part of the UK. Inland locations with fossils like this are rare in the UK. The fossils we have collected will surely form the basis of research projects for years to come.”
A Collaborative Effort
The discovery was made possible by the efforts of fossil collectors Sally and Neville Hollingworth, who have previously uncovered remains of mammoths at the Cotswold Water Park. Their expertise and dedication played a crucial role in bringing this remarkable site to light.
Preserving History for Future Generations
Many of the specimens collected during the excavation will be donated to Stroud’s Museum in the Park, adding to its impressive palaeontology collection. Nigel Larkin, a specialist palaeontological conservator, highlighted the educational value of this site:
“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Give a palaeontologist a fossil fish and they will tell you the species, the age of the rock, the climate of the time when the fish was alive, plus the water depth and salinity and plenty of other information. This site – already an interesting farm in a beautiful setting – is one big outdoor classroom.”
The discovery of these Jurassic fossils at Court Farm has not only unveiled a remarkable glimpse into the distant past but also promises to fuel scientific research and education for years to come, cementing the Cotswolds as a significant location in the study of prehistoric life.
