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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Science
Joe Hinchliffe

Queensland graziers unearth 100m-year-old plesiosaur remains likened to Rosetta Stone

Discovered in outback Queensland, the skull, neck and front half of the body of the elasmosaur were found preserved together.
Discovered in outback central Queensland, the skull, neck and front half of the body of the elasmosaur were found preserved together. Photograph: The Guardian

A group of female graziers from outback Queensland who hunt fossils in their downtime have uncovered the remains of a 100m-year-old creature that palaeontologists are likening to the Rosetta Stone for its potential to unlock the discovery of several new species of prehistoric marine giant.

One of the “Rock Chicks” – as the amateur palaeontologists call themselves – uncovered the fossilised remains of the long-necked plesiosaur, known as an elasmosaur, while searching her western Queensland cattle station in August.

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