Marine Reptile Fossil Found By Dog 16 Years Ago Goes On Show

Hold onto your fossil brushes, folks, because we've got a tale of discovery that's been 200 million years in the making! It all started back in 2007 when a trusty dog named Raffle decided to play archaeologist and stumbled upon a remarkable find. The lucky canine sniffed out the vertebrae of a 3.2-meter-long plesiosaur, a marine reptile that roamed the seas during the Early Jurassic period. And now, after 16 years of expert restoration work, this ancient creature is finally ready to make its grand debut! The fossil, lovingly nicknamed Raffle after the four-legged hero who made the discovery, has found its forever home at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. This jaw-dropping display is a true marvel, one of the few three-dimensional Lower Jurassic plesiosaur specimens in the entire world. Move over, Hollywood; this is the blockbuster we've been waiting for! Imagine the scene: a beautiful stretch of beach known as the "ammonite pavement" at Monmouth Beach, where ammonite fossils reign supreme. Ms. Barclay and her trusty companion Raffle were strolling along, enjoying the salty breeze, when suddenly Raffle's curiosity kicked in. With a few enthusiastic scratches, Raffle revealed a dark-colored shape against the pale background. Little did they know that this seemingly innocuous scratch would lead to a prehistoric revelation! Ms. Barclay, bursting with excitement, realized they had stumbled upon a treasure trove of ancient bones. She said, "I had a look and saw it was a row of vertebrae so [I was] very excited. I knew it was bone material straight away but didn't know if that was it." Well, Ms. Barclay, little did you know that this was just the beginning of an epic adventure! Enter Chris Moore, the partner in crime and a seasoned fossil enthusiast. With his expertise, the couple embarked on a 15-year journey of careful preparation, delicately extracting and revealing the hidden bones. It was a race against time, a test of patience, and a labor of love. But they persevered, channeling their inner paleontologists to bring this ancient creature back to life. And now, here we are, witnessing the culmination of their hard work. The plesiosaur skeleton, meticulously restored, stands tall and proud in all its prehistoric glory. Mr. Moore, still in awe, exclaimed, "It's great, just amazing. It's such a relief to have got it here safely. When you put so much effort into something and you get the final result, it's like, 'Wow'." Thanks to their generosity, the couple has loaned this magnificent 70%-complete skeleton to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Visitors from far and wide will have the privilege of witnessing this ancient marvel up close and personal. It's like stepping into a time machine and getting a glimpse of the Jurassic era, minus the terrifying dinosaurs. So, let's raise a toast to Raffle, the furry explorer extraordinaire, and to the dedicated efforts of Ms. Barclay and Mr. Moore. They have given us a window into the past, a chance to marvel at the wonders that once roamed our oceans. It's a testament to the power of curiosity and the joy of unearthing history, one scratch at a time.