Julian Temperley spent over $3,600 restoring and mounting the Ichthyosaurus fossil, which he now plans to feature on his 20-year-old cider brandy labels.
Image Credit: ati
The Temperley family who operated as builders' merchants in Somerset's rural landscape discovered an Ichthyosaurus fossil during their quarry excavation in 1850. The deeply religious Temperley family decided to hide the discovery instead of showing it to the world because they feared it might contradict their religious understanding of creation.
The family children unearthed the fossil throughout the years to view it before returning it to its underground resting place. The 2013-2014 devastating floods made the family understand that their prehistoric discovery needed proper conservation.
The 2014 examination by experts revealed the fossil maintained excellent preservation which allowed scientists to study a 90 million-year-old world. The story of the Temperleys and their hidden fossil demonstrates the continuous battle between religious beliefs and scientific knowledge while showing how curiosity and wonder can survive through time .
Reference:
Margaritoff, M. (2024, August 20). Englishman unveils Ichthyosaurus fossil his ancestors kept buried in their yard. All That's Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/ichthyosaurus-fossil-somerset-england