Top 8 dinosaur discoveries that changed history

Top 8 Dinosaur Discoveries that Changed History

From mythological stories of dragons, to science fiction fantasies of lands long ago, the dinosaur has captured man’s imagination and psyche for generations and generations to come. An integral part of William Henry’s innovative and exotic materials, our usage of dinosaur fossil has led us to compile the top 8 dinosaur discoveries that changed history: 1. Mosasaurus (1764): Discovered by workers in a limestone quarry near the city of

Maastricht, the fossil was brought to the attention of Dr. C.K. Hoffman, a surgeon and fossilhunter. While accounts vary after that, what is known is that by the mid-1800s, the fossil was conclusively identified by naturalist, Georges Cuvier, as the remains of an extinct species and not a living creature. During the Age of Enlightenment this was a startling claim, as prior to that fossil findings were usually only attributed to known species.

1. Hadrosaurus (1858): Dug up in Haddonfield, New Jersey, the Hadrosaurus was the first

nearly complete dinosaur fossil to ever be recorded and found in the U.S. A celebrated part of New Jersey history, it was designated the state fossil in 1994.

1. Archaeopteryx (1860s): In 1860 an isolated feather from over 150 million years ago was

discovered in Germany. A year later, its headless body was uncovered, and this raven-sized dinosaur was given the name Archaeopteryx. Lauded as the missing link between dinosaurs and birds, this creature would play an important role in the study of evolution.

1. Fighting Dinosaurs (1971): Deep within the sandstone cliffs of the Gobi Desert, in

1971 a Polish-Mongolian team uncovered an amazing sight buried beneath sands. Locked in a death grip, a carnivorous Velociraptor and herbivorous Protoceratops were found perfectly preserved and mid-combat, even after 80 million years.

1. Sue (1990): Also known as FMNH PR 2081, Sue was one of the largest and most

complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever found. Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, it stands over 40 feet and weighed more than 8.2 tons when it was alive.

1. Sinosauropteryx (1997): A distance relative of the Archaeopteryx, the Sinosauropteryx,

was the first of several feathered dinosaurs found in northeastern China. Covered in featherlike hairs, its discovery led paleontologists to rethink their theories on the evolution of dinosaurs.

1. Hesperonychus Elizabethae (2009): First discovered by Dr. Elizabeth Nicholls in 1982,

it was finally identified in 2009 by Dr. Nick Longrich and Dr. Phil Currie as a Hesperonychus Elizabethae, the smallest known carnivorous dinosaur in North America. At only 1.5 feet tall, its discovery helped paleontologists gain insight into the environment of Late Cretaceous North America.

1. Titanosaur (2014): Stumbled upon by a farmer in the deserts of western Argentina’s

Patagonia, a new species of Titanosaur was identified in 2014. Coming in at an estimated 77 tons, 130 feet long, and 65 feet high, the fossil is believed to be the largest animal to ever walk the earth. Excavated by paleontologists from the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio, scientists believe there are more fossils like it out there.

Owning Your Own Piece of History Now, owning a piece of natural history is possible, thanks to the ground-breaking collection of dinosaur bone men’s jewelry and accessories by William Henry. Ethically sourced from private land in Utah, the bone is from the 100 million year old Apatosaurus fossil. Hand polished and inlaid in William Henry’s line of men’s cufflinks, jewelry, folding knives and other gifts, it is the ultimate addition to any man’s wardrobe.

For more information on William Henry’s fossil dinosaur bone collection, please visit them at www.williamhenry.com.

Company Bio Since 1997, William Henry has been a luxury brand dedicated to bringing ground breaking and functional designs in the world of men’s jewelry. The winner of the 2013 JCK Jeweler’s Choice Awards, its devotion to procuring exotic and state of the art material, such as dinosaur bone, carbon fiber, and rare woods, has made it a unique voice in the industry. For more information, please visit them at www.williamhenry.com.