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Mary Anning, the fossil hunters who revolutionized paleontologists paleontology

Mary Anning was only 12 when an astonishing discovery changed his life. Months ago, his brother Joseph had found what appeared to be a crocodile skull, but the little Mary was quite skeptical that fossil and, as if it were a hobby either, continued research to find the truth. Joseph, who seemed not to give too much importance to that issue, soon left his sister alone in their research. This story was the point of origin for about a year later, when Mary had just turned 12 years, finding a fascinating fossil 5,2 meters long and did not resemble any known animal.

was the year 1810 in Britain, a time when the creationist theory was beginning to falter against new hypothesis (only a year earlier, in 1809, Lamarck had presented his theory of evolution). The discovery of the girl caused a sensation in scientific circles and society in England was excited to see the monster that fossil unknown. The naturalist William Bullock stated publicly the discovery in a London mansion, and soon the world of geology and biology began to investigate what it actually was. Scientists like

Everard Home wrote long articles describing the monster: At first I thought it was a fish, later concluded that it was an ancestor of the platypus, and he even said that was a cross between salamander and lizard .

But they really had found Mary Anning was neither more nor less than a specimen of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile from the Jurassic era. His appearance, similar that of a dolphin, he was won the name "alligator" (Ichthyosauria). The most extraordinary fossil Anning had found it was virtually complete and had a wonderful maintenance conditions (previously, they had found evidence that the small bones of the ichthyosaur by, but nobody had come across a complete copy).

For that feat worthy of the greatest paleontologist Mary Anning only gained 27 pounds, but something much more important than that was born: His vocation as a fossil hunter.

Mary came from a lower class family, which, added to which was a woman, made it harder to greatly its entry into the world of science. The Geological Society of London never admitted its members and always took it as an intruder. In fact, if it had been part of the scientific community, would probably have much more information on their findings, since, at times, paleontologists published studies based on fossils that she was not even mentioned. One of the best friends of Mary once wrote: "Mary says the world has used over and over again ... these men of science have sucked his brain, and have released a great game publishing works of which she developed content , receiving nothing in return. "

But all these setbacks did not prevent Mary developed his hobby: After the success that had generated his discovery of ichthyosaur, decided to open their own store of fossils. By that time he was 27 years and long experience as a collector of fossils. This new project attracted geologists from all over Europe and America, who came in search of exotic discoveries. Characters such recognized importance as George William Featherstonhaugh (first geologist in the history of the United States and a of the most important contributors to the Lyceum of Natural History in New York) went to England to buy fossil Mary. Even King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony was part of their clientele, which allowed the vagaries of an ichthyosaur buy for your collection.


The oddest thing about Mary Anning was his self-education: fish and squid dissected for comparison with the fossils found and devoured every book on paleontology who fell into their hands. This strengthened the role of Anning as one of the greatest experts in the field. In fact, years before he founded his store of fossils, and had made many great discoveries. Even should say that since the discovery of ichthyosaur, Mary did not stop new fossils ever found.

For example, during 1920-1921 (when she was 22 years old), made another discovery: A rare fossil of what appeared to be another marine reptile. Again, again the focus of numerous paleontólgos they began to devise hypotheses on the origin of this oddity. Proved to be the first fossil of a plesiosaur registered an animal of 5 meters from the Upper Jurassic, which attracted the admiration of all scientists. A few years later, Mary herself plesiosaur fossil found another that was even better (the first he found lacking the skull, but the second was perfect).

geologist William Daniel Conybeare wrote the most important item on the Plesiosaur and gave him his name, but never mentioned to Mary as the discoverer of the fossil. This is not only one of the many expressions of contempt which Mary suffered throughout their history (in fact, besides finding the fossil, she had been responsible for many of the sketches that accompanied the article.)

But their findings also generated distrust. The naturalist Georges Cuvier, who was one of the foremost authorities in the field of comparative anatomy, doubted the veracity of the fossil and began to examine itself to see if it was a fraud (something not uncommon in those days). And, the huge neck plesiosaur, which consisted of 35 vertebrae, wondered why on way to Cuvier, who thought of the possibility that it was a combination of the bones of various animals. However, after an investigation by the Geological Society of London, concluded that it was a legitimate fossil, recognizing that he was wrong in his accusations.

Throughout her career, Mary Anning made many more discoveries that, although not as spectacular as the previous ones, were quite important in the advancement of science. As an example, in 1828, discovered a copy in excellent conditions Dapedium politum, a fish that lived during the Triassic and Jurassic. Although she was not the discoverer of this species, was the one which provided one of the best preserved fossils that allowed a better study of their characteristics.

also found parts of the skeleton of a pterosaur, the famous flying vertebrates that lived with dinosaurs for most of the Mesozoic Era. Another of his contributions was the discovery related to the belemnites, a group of extinct mollusks and very similar to squid current and cuttlefish (specifically, Mary came to the conclusion that the belemnites ink used to defend as well as cephalopods do today).

But the importance of Mary Anning in the history of science is far beyond the simple discovery of single species: The paleontological evidence that contributions were a major support to the theory of the extinction of species, an essential element in the theory of evolution by natural selection. At that time even some thought that no species was extinct. Although scientists such as Cuvier had said that some mammals like the mammoth had gone, many others thought that these animals still exist in unexplored areas of the world (because, for them, the disappearance of a species created by God was a sign of imperfection). However, when Mary was with those strange animals, no one dared to doubt that might remain.

was also a founder of the science of geology is now known as paleontology, demonstrating that they could study the history of living things by fossil evidence. The analysis of the chronology of the earth from geological and paleontological evidence sustained a boom thanks to many of his discoveries.

At 47 years old, died of breast cancer, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy. After his death, many works were made in his honor. From the Geological Society of London, he spent a tribute that has never before had done to someone outside the company itself, let alone a woman. Other examples of recognition are the church of San Miguel Archangel, Lyme Regis, which has a window made in honor of the paleontologist, and the famous writer Charles Dickens, who came to dedicate an article in a magazine in which he wrote, remembering the great difficulties he went through this pioneer and expert in paleontology.

Source: elbustodepalas.blogspot.com