Colchester, England-Phys.org Report that a 100 million year old marine reptile fossil was found in a pit, along with the possible remains of a cat; a horse’s tooth; Clay utensils; and a petalA Roman spoon that was used to dispense perfumes or medicines from long-necked bottles. Roman artefacts dated to the 2nd century Advertisement Patrick Spencer of Colchester Archaeological Trust said, “On many parts of the English coastline, an isolated, probably heavily surficial, ichthyosaur vertebra washed up from the base of a cliff is a common find, with usually little impact.” “However, in this example, the completely unexpected context of the vertebrae made it completely extraordinary,” he explained. The rock still has fossils stuck to it suggesting it came from the east Kent coast, where there was once a Roman quarry. A miner may have picked up the fossil out of simple curiosity, Spencer said. Or, “it may be related to Greco-Roman folklore and mythology, in which the vertebra was regarded as the tangible remains of a mythical creature or giant,” Spencer speculated. To read about a trilobite fossil found in Roman Spain that may have been used as an amulet, go to “fossil force“
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