Interesting Headlines for December 2008

New species are discovered every year, but it is quite rare to come across some that have been extinct for quite some time. The Sahara desert is the location where old dinosaurs may emerge. In this article, you will also learn more about an ancient piece of jewelry found in a not-so-familiar location.

New Species of Prehistoric Giant Discovered

The Sahara desert is the location of a newly discovered species of prehistoric giant, thanks to dinosaur enthusiasts who spent about a month digging about the past. As they return to their homes, they will have plenty of exciting stories to share, as they believe to have unearthed possibly two new species of extinct creatures. In the past 50 years, this discovery signifies one of the most exciting of its kind.

The team has stumbled upon a new kind of pterosaur and a sauropod (a rather large species of plant-eating dinosaur) that hasn’t been previously recorded in the dino books. Both of the species are thought to have lived nearly 100 million years ago; and were found in the southeast part of Morocco (close to the Algerian border).

When paleontologists chiseled away at the earth, they found a sizeable fragment of a beak that once belonging to a giant reptile with wings. The sauropod produced a bone that measured more than 1 meter in length. It is thought that the creature would have measured about 65 feet in length. Both of the finds are considered quite rare.

The search for the prehistoric giants were led by scientists from the University of Portsmouth, University College Dublin (UCD) and the Universite Hassan II in Casablanca. Heading the expedition was UCD palaeontologist, Nizar Ibrahim , an expert on dinosaurs in North Africa. He stated that uncovering not one, but two specimens of this kind in one expedition were quite remarkable. He was pleased that the results might reap two new species never before analyzed.

England is Home to 4,000-year-old Amber Necklace

In England, an amber necklace that dates back 4,000 years old was found , quite a rare discovery. Out of a stone-lined grave , known as a Cist, researchers from a team associated with the University of Manchester Field Archaeology Center and Mellor Archaeological Trust excavated. Researchers are rather happy because this is the first time that a necklace of its kind has been located in the north west part of England. The necklace is an example of jewelry from the early Bronze Age.

During the early Bronze Age, amber was used as a sign of power and influence. Finding this sort of piece is pretty significant. Locating it in the northwest part of England is even more of a find. The artifact consists of a handful of amber beads of various sizes pieced together on a string of fiber. Hopefully, scientists will be able to find out how such a substance found its way to this part of England and possibly who is responsible for its transplant.