In the distant year of 1824, William Buckland, professor of Geology at the University of Oxford, shed light on the fascinating discovery of huge fossilized bones from the slate quarries in Oxfordshire, England, revealing the first dinosaur known.
Before this discovery, curiosity surrounded these fossils, which emerged in the late 17th century. Experts at the time thought they could belong to Roman war elephants or even giant humans.
It was only in 1824 that Buckland described and named the creature, calling it ‘Megalosaurus’, in a scientific paper presented to the newly formed Geological Society of London on February 20, 1824.
Megalosaurus Fossil – Image: Natural History Museum/Reproduction
Based on jaws, vertebrae, and limb bones found, Buckland believed that the Megalosaurus it was a carnivore more than 12 meters long, with the bulk of an elephant.
He conjectured that this creature was amphibious, inhabiting both land and water.
The origin of the term ‘dinosaur’ and Buckland’s legacy
The word ‘dinosaur’ was only coined 20 years later, by Richard Owen, anatomist and founder of the Natural History Museum in London.
He identified common features in studies of Megalosaurus and two others dinosaursIguanodon and Hylaeosaurus, first described in 1825 and 1833, respectively.
Despite the Megalosaurus article’s significant impact on Buckland’s reputation, public interest at the time was more focused on the complete marine reptile fossils collected by renowned paleontologist Mary Anning off the coast of Dorset, England.
William Buckland in Oxford giving a lecture – Image: Natural History Museum/Reproduction
Although no complete Megalosaurus skeleton has been found, this discovery has influenced popular culture.
Charles Dickensfor example, imagined the appearance of a Megalosaurus on the streets of London at the opening of his novel ‘Bleak House’ (‘Desolated House’, in Portuguese), in 1852.
William Buckland, a multifaceted and charismatic scholar, graduated from Oxford in 1805 and maintained contact with notable scientists of the time.
His scientific career ended prematurely due to a mental breakdown, but his work was crucial to understanding prehistory.
His marriage to Mary Morland, his talented assistant and illustrator of the Megalosaurus fossils in his groundbreaking paper, contributed to his scientific legacy.
He also played an important role in understanding the period of glaciation in Britain.
The future of paleontology
As paleontologists celebrate the bicentenary of the discovery of the first dinosaur, around a thousand dinosaur species have already been named, with approximately 50 new ones discovered each year.
Technological advances, such as computed tomography, allow a detailed understanding of dinosaurs, including the analysis of feather structures and even the identification of the original plumage colors.
However, much remains unknown, such as the reason behind the growth of these creatures or even the sounds they produced.
The Natural History Museum of London and the Geological Society plan special events in 2024 to celebrate the legacy of Buckland’s pioneering discovery, providing an opportunity to reflect on the past and glimpse the future of paleontology.
The 200th anniversary of the discovery of the first dinosaur is a milestone to celebrate and a reminder of the vast unknown that still awaits us in the fascinating world of prehistory.
