A dinosaur fossil first spotted on the Isle of Skye over half a century ago has finally been identified, shedding light on Scotland’s prehistoric past.
The fossil was first discovered in 1973 near Elgol, in the south of Skye, making it the earliest recorded dinosaur find in Scotland.
It remained uncollected for decades until Dr Elsa Panciroli and her team returned to the site in 2018 to attempt its difficult extraction.
Though the specimen is preserved only in fragments, it includes part of the spine, ribs, and a hip bone, making it the most complete dinosaur skeleton found in Scotland to date.
Researchers have identified it as an ornithopod dinosaur, a group that includes well-known species like Iguanodon and Edmontosaurus.
The Elgol dinosaur lived around 166 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic period and is one of the earliest known ornithopod fossils.
Analysis suggests the animal, which was about the size of a pony, was at least eight years old when it died.
The findings have now been published in the Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Dr Panciroli, NERC Independent Research Fellow at National Museums Scotland, described the excavation as a major challenge but one that was vital for further study.
She explained that, despite initial doubts about the feasibility of extracting the fossil, her team’s persistence paid off, allowing them to confirm Scotland’s first recorded and most complete dinosaur.
The extraction was made possible with the help of Research Casting International from Canada and a local boat crew from Elgol’s Bella Jane Boat Trips.
Dr Stig Walsh from National Museums Scotland highlighted the significance of the discovery in expanding knowledge of Skye’s Jurassic ecosystem.
Previous dinosaur evidence on Skye included fossilised footprints at An Corran, Brother’s Point, and Duntulm, as well as isolated bones, but this find represents a much more complete specimen.
The fossil has now been added to the National Collection, alongside other important Jurassic finds from Skye.
Recent discoveries from the island include Krusatodon, an early mammal species that revealed insights into prehistoric mammalian growth, and Dearc sgiathanach, the world’s largest Jurassic pterosaur fossil.
Professor Susie Maidment of the Natural History Museum and the University of Birmingham noted that the Elgol dinosaur has been difficult to identify but offers valuable insights into early ornithopods.
She pointed out that this specimen predates well-known ornithopods like Iguanodon and Hypsilophodon by millions of years.
The fossil provides further evidence of the diverse and well-preserved Middle Jurassic life on Skye.
The research paper also included contributions from experts at institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, the University of Birmingham, and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Professor Rob Ellam, Editor of the journal, praised the study as a landmark in Scottish palaeontology, reinforcing the nation’s reputation in the field.
This discovery marks yet another step in uncovering Scotland’s ancient past, with Skye proving to be a treasure trove of Jurassic history.
