1770 Mstricht Mosasaur
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1770 Mstricht Mosasaur
1798 Copperplate engraving map with its original handcolouring from Volume III of J.L Bertuchs " Bilderbuch fur Kinder". Mosasaur hoffmanii. The Mstricht Mosasaur was the first giant prehistoric reptile to be found and described by science. It prompted enlightenment scholars to consider that the world might once have been populated by different creatures to those found today. This image shows the location (" Eingang" cave entrance) of the 1770 discovery in the St. Peters Bergs cave system near Mstricht. The find was publicised widely by the naturalist Johann Hoffman. It was later captured by French Revolutionary forces and taken to Paris. A Dutch naturalist Adriaan Camper realised the beast was allied to the lizards in 1799. In 1808 Georges Cuvier published it in his seminal paleontology work " Ossamens Fossiles". It was not actually named Mosasaurus (" Meuse reptile" ) until 1822
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6318131
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
18th Century Chalk Cretaceous Cuvier Dinosaur Discovery Extinct Extinction Fossil Lizard Maastrichtian Marl Mosasaur Mososaur Pre Historic Reptile Maastricht Palaeontology
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a remarkable piece of scientific history - the 1770 Mstricht Mosasaur. This exquisite copperplate engraving map, with its original handcolouring, was featured in Volume III of J. L Bertuch's "Bilderbuch fur Kinder". The Mstricht Mosasaur holds great significance as it was the first colossal prehistoric reptile to be discovered and described by science. Its unearthing sparked a profound shift in enlightenment scholars' understanding of Earth's past inhabitants. The image depicts the exact location where this monumental discovery took place - the "Eingang" cave entrance within the St. Peters Bergs cave system near Mstricht. Discovered by naturalist Johann Hoffman in 1770, news of this find spread far and wide. However, during the French Revolution, it fell into their hands and was transported to Paris. It wasn't until Dutch naturalist Adriaan Camper recognized its relation to lizards in 1799 that further progress was made. Finally, in 1808 Georges Cuvier included it in his groundbreaking work on paleontology titled "Ossamens Fossiles". Interestingly enough, it wasn't officially named Mosasaurus ("Meuse reptile") until 1822. This extraordinary artwork transports us back to a time when our world teemed with creatures vastly different from those we know today. It serves as a testament to humanity's insatiable curiosity about our planet's ancient past and reminds us of how much there is still left for us to discover about our prehistoric origins.
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