Remains of flying reptile unearthed at quarry

The remains of a huge flying reptile from the age of the dinosaurs have gone on display after they were unearthed at a quarry in Rutland.

Members of the Peterborough Geological and Palaeontological Group discovered two sections of a bone in the layers of limestone during field visits to Ketton cement works.

The large bone has now been dated to about 170 million years ago, making it the first fossil of any pterosaur from the Bajocian age of the Middle Jurassic period.

Palaeontologists believe it is the first pterosaur fossil to be found in the county, and the bone fragments are now on display at Rutland County Museum in Oakham.

Penny Sharp, director of places at Rutland County Council, said: "It's tremendous to have yet another major discovery, following hot on the heels of the Rutland Water ichthyosaur and 4th Century Roman mosaic that have already been unearthed in the county."

According to research published in the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association Journal in October, it is believed the bone is a left ulna.

From this section, the full wingspan of the fossil is estimated to have been between 3.5m and 4m, making it an "unusually large" pterosaur.

Such finds are rare, said Rutland County Museum, as pterosaur bones are hollow and easily crushed.

Heidelberg Materials's Grange Top quarry manager, Aurelien Colas, said the find was "truly exciting", and added: "Without quarrying, these fossils would likely never be found as they are buried so deep beneath layers of rocks."

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