The development of palaeontology in the UK goes back a long time!

In our very first episode, we talked about the first dinosaur ever discovered and named — the Megalosaurus, found about 200 years ago in the Taynton Limestone Formation.

And guess what? The word “Dinosaur” itself was created by a British palaeontologist named Richard Owen, all the way back in 1841!

The second dinosaur ever discovered was also found in the UK — in the Wessex Formation in the south of England. This dinosaur is called Iguanodon.

At first, scientists thought it was just a giant lizard because of the shape of its teeth. But after finding more fossils, they realised it was something very special — a real dinosaur!

Back in those days, people thought dinosaurs were big, slow, and not very clever.

In 1851, at the Great Exhibition in London, more than 20 kinds of prehistoric creatures were on display — including models of Megalosaurus and Iguanodon!

But... those early models looked like giant, oversized chameleons, because no one really knew what dinosaurs were like yet.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century, when more fossils were found and studied, that scientists began to realise dinosaurs were actually smart and agile animals!