Tiny pterodactyl bone reveals ancient life in Denmark
A unique discovery has been made in a Danish town. Although the find is tiny, it holds great significance: it's a fragment of a pterodactyl bone.
6:41 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
The Østsjællands Museum, located in the Danish town of Faxe, provided information about the discovery. One of its conservators found the fossil at Stevns Klint, one of the most impressive cliffs in Zealand, Denmark, about 37 miles south of Copenhagen. This site is well-known among seekers of prehistoric remnants.
Unique discovery
The find was tiny—only about 0.2 inches long and 0.05 inches wide—but it drew significant interest from museum staff. The shape and mass of the fossil suggested it belonged to a bird or a pterodactyl. Results from paleontological studies have left no doubt: the fragment comes from a dinosaur's wing, likely from a finger supporting its outer part.
"This is the first evidence that a pterodactyl roamed the area that would one day become Denmark," a Facebook post on the museum's profile stated.
"Like hitting the jackpot"
"Big applause for the conservator and discoverer Sten Lennart Jakobsen, who found the bone fragment," said a Facebook post.
"In over 50 years of collecting fossils at Stevns Klint, I never imagined I could find a piece of pterodactyl. It was like hitting the jackpot in the lottery for me," said the finder, as quoted by Danish media.
On October 26, in connection with Fossil Day, tourists were able to see the bone fragment in person. It was displayed under a microscope at the museum, allowing for a close-up view.
