Hobbies And Interests
Megalosaurus
Originally identified as a bone from a human giant upon its discovery in 1676, the partial femur of Megalosaurus led to its distinction as being the first scientifically described dinosaur fossil. The correct identification took place more than a hundred years later in 1824, when William Buckland overturned the original Oxford University identification. Until that point, people explained dinosaur bones as "dragon" bones or identified partial fossils as belonging to current or similar species. After Megalosaurus' scientific description, the scientific community went on to describe many other fossils, leading to a wealth of knowledge about extinct plants, animals and ecosystems.
Iguanodon
Although the Megalosaurus holds the title of first scientifically described dinosaur fossil, the fossilized remains of Iguanodon caused an uproar in the scientific community four years earlier. This animal, with its distinctive "thumb" claws ignited a debate among Britain's scientific community, paving the way for the description of dinosaurs such as Megalosaurus. Even William Buckland, who later went on to describe the Megalosaurus, wrote Iguanodon's fossil off as belonging to a fish or rhinoceros. While not conclusively described until much later, the Iguanodon fossil set the tone for the debate over dinosaurs that would follow.
Lucy
First discovered by Donald Johanson and Tom Gray in 1974, the fossilized remains of Australopithicus afarensis "Lucy" presented the scientific community with a 40 percent complete example of one of the earliest hominids. Named for the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," Lucy gave scientists insight into some of humans' earliest ancestors: that they lived part of the time in trees, stood about 4 feet tall and weighed about 70 pounds. While scientists have unearthed several other early hominids of similar significance since Lucy's discovery, this fossil remains among the most important in the study of early humans.
Apex Chert Microfossils
Some of the earliest life forms on the planet resembled contemporary bacteria, with strand-like structures and very simple cellular design. Scientists originally described the Apex Chert microfossils as the oldest fossilized life form on the planet. Other scientists have disputed this description and assert that the Apex Chert microfossils represent geological formations rather than living organisms. The debate continues today as to the correct description of these unusual, potential organisms.
The Piltdown Man
The history of fossil study has seen a variety of hoaxes. One of the more recent hoaxes, the so-called Piltdown Man hoax, arose in 1912 when alleged early hominid remains appeared in a gravel pit in Piltdown, England. Originally named the "Dawn Man," extensive testing of the fossil years after its discovery revealed its young age. Tests revealed the bones had been treated with chemicals to harden them to a more fossil-like consistency. While much of the evidence supports that the original discoverer, amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson, planted the bones, no one has definitively identified the hoax's perpetrator.