when was the first dinosaur fossil discovered
The first scientifically documented dinosaur fossil was described in 1677, when English naturalist Robert Plot published an illustration and description of a giant thigh bone from a quarry in England, though he misidentified it as belonging to a giant human or war elephant. The first fossil to be formally recognized and named as a distinct large extinct reptile was Megalosaurus, described by William Buckland in 1824, which is often cited as the moment the first dinosaur was officially acknowledged by science (even though the word “dinosaur” did not yet exist).
Quick Scoop: First Dinosaur Fossil
- 1677 : Robert Plot publishes the first known scientific description and illustration of what we now recognize as a dinosaur bone (a huge femur from England), but he thinks it is from a giant human or elephant.
- 1824 : William Buckland formally describes and names Megalosaurus from fossils in Stonesfield, near Oxford, marking the first dinosaur to be scientifically named.
- 1840s : Richard Owen coins the term “Dinosauria,” so these earlier finds only later became known as “dinosaurs.”
Two Key Dates to Remember
- “First dinosaur fossil found” (in hindsight) : 1670s–1677, Robert Plot’s giant bone, now understood to have been from a dinosaur, even though people at the time had no concept of dinosaurs.
- “First dinosaur officially described and named” : February 20, 1824, when Buckland presented Megalosaurus to the Geological Society of London.
So, if someone asks “when was the first dinosaur fossil discovered,” the historically grounded answers are:
- Earliest known scientific record of a dinosaur bone: 1677 (misidentified).
- First dinosaur fossil formally recognized and named as its own extinct reptile: 1824 , with Megalosaurus.
| Year | What Happened | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1677 | Robert Plot describes a huge femur from an English quarry, later recognized as dinosaur bone. | [3][5]Earliest known published record of a dinosaur fossil, even though it wasn’t called that yet. | [5][3]
| 1824 | William Buckland names and describes Megalosaurus from fossils near Oxford. | [9][1][3][5]First dinosaur to be formally described and named in scientific literature. | [10][1][3][5]
| 1840s | Richard Owen defines “Dinosauria,” grouping animals like Megalosaurus as dinosaurs. | [9][5]Creates the concept of dinosaurs as a distinct group of ancient reptiles. | [5][9]
Many historians say we’ll never know who actually found the first dinosaur bone, because people have probably stumbled over them for thousands of years and either ignored them or folded them into myths.
TL;DR:
- First known published dinosaur bone: 1677 (not recognized as a dinosaur at the time).
- First fossil formally described and named as a dinosaur species: Megalosaurus in 1824.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
