E PI S C OPA L U P C L O S E
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PREHISTORY
The Smiling Meuse River Monster B Y N A T ASH A F ER G U S O N ’ 1 6
As you approach it, walking down the first-floor hall of Baker Science Center, it appears to be smiling at you. It’s not a happy smile, but a villainous one – a sneer of power and dominance. But what would you expect from one of the most ferocious marine predators of the Cretaceous Period? Almost 65 million years ago, the mosasaur was one of the largest marine lizards to roam the Cretaceous seas, ranging in length from about 3 to 60 feet. Episcopal’s robust fossil collection includes the above-mentioned mosasaur mouth, and this spring, a more complete mosasaur skull, given to the School by Wayne Holman ’53, will be added to the display. Often called the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the sea, mosasaurs were actually “much bigger than T. Rex,” writes University of Alberta biologist Michael Caldwell. “They really were sea monsters.” Imagine a prehistoric Im
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marine snake-and-Komodo-dragon hybrid – with serpentine agility and lizard-like looks. The mosasaur needed oxygen from the surface to breathe, like today’s dolphins, and its diamond scale covering resembled that of crocodiles. Perhaps its most fascinating attribute, a double-hinged jaw, allowed the mosasaur to swallow its prey whole without having to chew. Pawless and clawless, mosasaurs, writes paleontologist E. D. Cope, used their four rows of sharp teeth on the roofs of their mouths as “weapons for seizing their prey” rather than tools of mastication. Powerful swimming skills and the ability to quickly ingest other animals allowed the mosasaur to exert its supremacy. Like all powerful large lizards of their time, the mosasaur went extinct when the famous meteor hit the Earth and brought an end to the Cretaceous period. Since during this era the Earth was mostly covered by water, remains of mosasaurs have been found all over the world, from Russia to New Zealand, and from France to the United States. The first mosasaur fossil was found in 1764 near the Meuse River in the Netherlands, and so the name “mosasaur” comes from the words Mosa, Latin for “Meuse River,” and sauros, Greek for lizard. Mosasaurs are therefore often referred to as Meuse River monsters, which seems to put them in a category with mythical water creatures from places like Loch Ness. But the mosasaur was once a terrifying reality. Episcopal’s mosasaur bones give students a physical representation of our biological past. Those who take the time to notice will be reminded that everything imaginary, fabled, and fantastic descends from something magnificently real.
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BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
What’s Next for Stewart Gym? In January, the EHS Board of Trustees met with Voith and Mactavish Architects to discuss the next steps for transforming Stewart Gym into a state-of-the-art student center. Renderings depict open and brightly lit spaces, many areas for group and individual work, a gaming center, a grill, and a designated space for coffeehouse performances. All of these interior enhancements will be made while preserving the integrity and legacy of the building’s façade. With the Board’s approval of the plans for Stewart Gym, the project moves into the next phase. Construction is targeted to commence in January 2016 with a completion date of late summer
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that same year, ensuring that the student center is ready to occupy at the start of the 2016-17 school year. The generous gift of Louis Bacon ’74 this fall has generated tremendous energy and enthusiasm for this project. The idea of reusing a beloved space on campus in a new and innovative way is inspiring and aligns with the School’s mission of adhering to sustainable practices. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact Christina Holt, director of institutional advancement, at cmh@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4028.