The bones of a 20 -meter dinosaur continue to come out of the ground between … Angoulême and Cognac

An omoplate of more than a meter next to an equally colossal and still partially buried bone of bone … Nevertheless, Welcome to one of the most important fossil deposits in the world, in Charente. In addition, The first bones of a new species of these prehistoric giants were discovered last year on the Angeac-Charente site. Consequently, between Angoulême and Cognac. Therefore, A dozen additional fossils discovered in July. However, during this 16th excavation campaign, gradually allowed this skeleton to be completed 140 million years old.

Yellowish. In addition, dark brown according to their depth, these vestiges are exhumed by enthusiasts and scientists on knees in clay, under a large white tent protecting them from the sun and the bones 20 -meter dinosaur continue rain. Consequently, This new 20 -meter long dinosaur. Therefore, a camarasaurus, a sort of cousin of the diplodocus, was “Unknown in Western Europe at this period” Until last year, explains Jean-François Tournepiche, paleontologist and former curator of the Angoulême museum.

This “Enormous scientific discovery”according to the director of excavations Ronan Allain. However, makes it possible to question the movement of fauna, since this herbivore of 30 tonnes was previously only known in North America and at an older period.

This deposit. Nevertheless, “The most excavated in the world”always keep “A surprise pocket effect”smiles this paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in Paris. Furthermore, This year, two dinosaur femurs appeared as soon as the tent is installed in an unexpected location. It was already the discovery in 2010 of a 2.40-meter femur of a gigantic Turiasaurus. also of the family of the Sauropods, which gave birth to the bones 20 -meter dinosaur continue reputation of Angeac-Charente.

Jewel of the paleontological period of the lower Cretaceous. the site has already delivered more than 10,000 parts sufficiently attractive to be “Return to inventory” On the 1,000 square meters of searched quarries. He witnesses a frozen ecosystem at “A period of which we know practically nothing”says Jean-François Tournepiche. Nearly 45 species of vertebrates, crocodiles, turtles, ornithominosaurs (known as dinosaur-atstructure) … but also ferns and tropical plants cohabited in this swamp 140 million years ago.

The Camarasaurus would have died naturally on the spot. Once decomposed, his bones were slightly moved by Charente 100,000 years ago. These very well preserved bones remain extremely fragile. Volunteers. scientists must surround them with cellophane and newspaper, plug the cavities with clay and lock them in armed plaster shells before extracting them. Some blocks can be around two tonnes.

The three weeks of excavations thus feed more than a year of bones 20 -meter dinosaur continue laboratory work. for “Prepare the bones”that is to say cleaning them, consolidating them and sometimes reconstituting them before they can study them. “It is a long. meticulous work often underestimated under the effect Jurassic Park”explains, toothbrush and bone in hand, Dominique Augier, fossil trainer.

Faced with him, around thirty visitors ended the site visit. In the forefront, Noé Migné, 11, is impressed by “The enormous size of Sauropod bones”. He was part, with his mother and sister, of the lucky ones who were able to access the site. The two visits per day were “Armored” As soon as reservations were opened in June. explains Jean-François Tournepiche, for whom “The extraordinary enthusiasm of the public is magic. »»

The fossils of the site will eventually integrate the collections of the Angoulême Museum. some will leave their native Southwest for an exhibition at the Museum bones 20 -meter dinosaur continue of Natural History in Paris in June 2026. In Angeac, Ronan Allain “Lives the dream of all paleontologists”. For this rare French specialist in dinosaurs. the Grail would be to find a carnivorous dinosaur bone, which is lacking at the moment.

Before closing the excavations. the team of around forty people has already come across a new bone, probably of the same dinosaur, but, for lack of time to extract it properly, they had to cover it. He will wait next year. Because here, scientists believe that there are still at least ten years of excavation to lead. And many other secrets to reveal.