A large fossilized dinosaur was discovered early this month in
central China's Henan
Province during exploration by Chinese geologists and
paleontologists.
This is the first time a large dinosaur fossil has been found in
central China dinosaur expert, Dong Zhiming, told Xinhua on
Monday.
Dong, a researcher with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology
and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, said that the fossilized dinosaur was a vegetarian
and could be dated back to the early and middle Cretaceous
period--about 100 million years ago.
"A rib of the dinosaur is about two meters in length so we can
estimate that it was more than 20 meters long," said Dong. The
species of the dinosaur had yet to be determined, he added.
The fossilized dinosaur was found in Shaping Village, Liudian
Township, Ruyang County of Henan Province. A large number of
fossilized dinosaur eggs were found in Xixia County, about 100
kilometers away from the Ruyang County, more than 10 years ago.
The number of the dinosaur eggs in Xixia County accounts for
half of the total in China and one third of the total around the
world. However, no complete dinosaur fossil had been found in the
region previously.
He Mingbo, a leader of the Liudian Township, said for many years
local residents believed a kind of "dragon bone stone" could be
used to treat wounds. "Many people found these 'dragon bone stones'
in fields or on hills," he said.
An 85-year-old villager, surnamed Cao said "I've broken several
thousand kilograms of 'dragon bone stones' to sell as traditional
medicine over the past decades. I didn't know they were such a
precious thing. I'm sorry about that."
Experts said more dinosaur fossils might be found in the
region.
Local government has posted notices in the village explaining
the fossils to villagers and forbidding their removal and
sale.?
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2006)