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• Pliosaurs

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The Jurassic Period - 206 to 144 million years ago

During the Jurassic period the Peterborough area was under a sea called the Tethys. Some isolated dinosaur bones were washed into the sea from the land.

These include Sauropods, Cetiosaurs, the Ankylosaur Pelorosaurus, the Stegosaur Lexovisaurus, and the Therapod Megalosaurus. A pterodactyl fossil has also been found, this is now at the Natural History Museum in London. Most of the fossils in our collection are marine reptiles and fish.

The Jurassic rock, with was laid down under the sea, is called Oxford Clay. This is excellent for brick-making, and most of the Jurassic fossils in the museum were actually discovered in the brick pits, whilst the clay was being extracted.

Many of the fossil reptile specimens are single vertebra, ribs, or teeth, but there are some complete skeletons, like this crocodilian. Plesiosaurs, Pliosaurs and ichthyosaurs also lived in the Jurassic sea.

Many of Peterborough’s most popular cultural and sporting facilities are part of Vivacity, an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

Find out more about the trust on the Vivacity website.