The creature, nicknamed Indie, is thought to be an Iguanodon – a herbivore which could grow to the size of an African elephant and run at 14mph (23kmh).
It took them four weeks to excavate seven blocks full of bones from the Wienerberger brick factory in Ewhurst, Surrey, and transport them back to their lab for analysing.
Palaeontologists who discovered a rare Iguanodon dinosaur skeleton, believed to be 132 million years old, are offering fellow enthusiasts the chance to help them excavate it. Pictured is a block containing the ribs of the Iguanodon dinosau
The Iguanodon was an herbivore that walked the Earth 132 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous period.
It would have been 10 feet (three metres) tall, 30 feet (10 metres) long and weighed 4.5 tons.
The creature (artist’s impression), nicknamed Indie, is thought to be an Iguanodon – a herbivore which could grow to the size of an African elephant and could run at 14mph (23kmh)
It took them four weeks to excavate seven blocks full of bones from the Wienerberger brick factory in Ewhurst, Surrey, and transport them back to their lab for analysing. Pictured is a partially excavated tail vertebrae
Researchers (pictured) are now seeking volunteers to help them uncover the secrets of this large herbivore. The Iguanodon was an herbivore that walked the earth 132 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous period
For health and safety reasons they are unable to let anyone under the age of 16 work on it.
Jamie Jordan and Sarah Moore from Fossils Galore museum and educational centre in March, Cambridgeshire, uncovered the skeleton in a Surrey quarry (pictured) last February
A year after their initial find, Mr Jordan, a self-taught dinosaur expert, says his team – which is made up entirely of volunteers – has removed less than five per cent of the bones from the blocks.
He is now appealing for more people to come and help with the painstaking task at the purpose-built observation booth at the museum, which enables visitors to watch the excavators at work through a glass panel. Pictured is the site where the bones were found
The incredible discovery was made at Wienerberger brick factory in Ewhurst, Surrey
As well as physical help, Mr Jordan is also seeking financial support to help keep the excavation project going.
He added: ‘As an educational activity centre we rely solely on donations and raising money through school visits and the activities we do here at the museum.
‘We don’t get any grants or other funding, we have to raise everything ourselves.
‘To keep going we really need more financial support; ideally once the skeleton is ready for display, we’d like to have some new premises too, as it’s going to be around three metres high.’
Mr Jordan says no previous experience is necessary as all volunteers will be taught how to carefully remove the layers of compacted clay using air scribes and other hand tools. Pictured shows a block containing the ribs of the Iguanodon dinosaur
As well as physical help, Mr Jordan is also seeking financial support to help keep the excavation project going. Pictured are volunteers at work
Mr Jordan and Ms Moore were on a routine fossil hunt when they found a block of compacted clay that had formed a hard boulder
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After splitting it open, they discovered layers of bones that led them to believe there was more to find – although even they were initially unsure of the scale of their discovery. The last major dinosaur find on this scale in the UK was back in 1989
Mr Jordan and Ms Moore were on a routine fossil hunt when they found a block of compacted clay that had formed a hard boulder.
After splitting it open, they discovered layers of bones that led them to believe there was more to find – although even they were initially unsure of the scale of their discovery.
The last major dinosaur find on this scale in the UK was back in 1989.
It would have been prey for one of England’s biggest predators, Baryonyx, a relative of Spinosaurus.
To help with the excavation contact Fossils Galore on 00441354 278089 or atwww.fossilsgalore.com.
The dinosaur would have been prey for one of England’s biggest predators, Baryonyx, a relative of Spinosaurus. This picture shows Mr Jordan excavating a block containing the ribs
This picture shows the Iguanodon dinosaur being excavated by volunteers in the lab. To help with the excavation contact Fossils Galore on 01354 278089 or at www.fossilsgalore.com
For health and safety reasons they are unable to let anyone under the age of 16 work on it. This image shows Mr Jordan with a claw from the Iguanodon dinosaur