Din O’Saurs discovered! Ireland’s earliest dinosaur fossils are found in County Antrim

It’s an Irish discovery that has been in preparation for 200 million years: for the first time ever, dinosaur bones have been identified on the island.

The fossil bones come from a four-legged carnivorous choicosaurus and a deadly two-legged carnivorous sarcosaur and were found in Antrim.

The late teacher and fossil collector Roger Byrne found the bones years ago and donated them to the Ulster Museum.

Yesterday, for the first time, it was confirmed that they come from dinosaurs, and the Ulster Museum will put them on display when it reopens after the restrictions are lifted.

The fossil bones come from a four-legged plant-eating Scelidosaurus (pictured, artist rendering) and a deadly two-legged carnivorous sarcosaur and were found in Antrim

A team of experts from the University of Portsmouth and Queen’s University of Belfast used 3D digital models of the fossils to identify the type of dinosaur each came from.

Researcher Professor David Martill said the two species are like chalk and cheese. He said the sarcosaur was a spectacular animal with a large head and ran on two muscular, powerful legs.

The Scelidosaurus was a powerful spiked animal. He was a herbivore, but he would have held up well if a meat eater gave him trouble.

The professor. Martill said, “One of them is that, if you take your daily vision of a carnivorous dinosaur, it had a mouth full of razor-sharp serrated teeth.”

The head of the research, Dr. Mike Simms (pictured), said: “The two dinosaur fossils that Roger Byrne found were possibly wiped out at sea, dead or alive, sinking into the Jurassic floor where they were buried and fossilized “.

Yesterday, for the first time, it was confirmed that the bones come from dinosaurs and the Ulster Museum will put them on display when it reopens after restrictions are lifted. In the photo: artistic representation of a sarcosaur

The Scelidosaurus ran on all fours with the hind legs higher than the head. It would have been adorned with large spikes covered by the type of sheath a claw is made of.

“If it came to bring you to your knees, it would tear you apart. Although it was a herbivorous animal, it was not a helpless animal. ‘

Research lead Dr. Mike Simms said: “The two dinosaur fossils Roger Byrne found were possibly carried into the sea, dead or alive, sinking into the Jurassic floor where they were buried and fossilized.”