Anning and the Ichthyosaur

Mary Anning (1799-1847), one of paleontology’s founding names, is celebrated as unearthing some of the most well-known prehistoric creatures including her most famous discovery, the ichthyosaur. The many dinosaurs Anning unearthed has helped contribute to huge scientific papers and even Darwin’s theory of evolution. It is therefore unsurprising she has found her way into the history books and her discoveries are displayed nationwide, including the Sedgwick Museum in Cambridge.

An original Ichthyosaur skeleton on display at Extraordinary Objects Gallery. Sourced and prepared in Dorset, UK.

At only 19 years old, Anning discovered a four foot ichthyosaur on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, which is now known for its abundance of prehistoric fossils. The first ichthyosaur Anning discovered was eventually sold to Cambridge University for £50 (approximately £5050 today).

Recently, the two original casts of Anning’s Ichthyosaur were found in the US and the National Museum of Germany, both of which were previously thought to have been lost in World War Two. The original skeleton was sold to the Royal College of Surgeons in London and is still on display there now.

An Ichthyosaur specimen from Anning now owned by Oxford University

Despite her clear skill and geological talent for finding fossils, the Geological Society of London refused to accept her and didn’t accept women until 1904, long after Anning had died. Anning’s salesman skills were not only limited to Sedgwick in Cambridge, but also extended to Oxford University. Below is an Ichthyosaur specimen currently on display in Oxford, which includes scales and the last meal the marine creature ate.

In 2010, Anning was named one of the “10 most influential women in science” by the British Royal Association. Her incredible level of detail and careful excavation skills shown above, prove Anning deserves such acclamation. Her pioneering in palaeontology allowed for such significant scientific findings and directly contributed to the techniques used to reveal the fossils on display at the Extraordinary Objects Gallery.

Our ichthyosaur and other rare natural history pieces can be seen in the gallery today, open Wednesday to Sunday 12-5 PM.

You can also view our extraordinary collection of fossils and minerals online.