© National Museum of Natural History
A remarkable palaeontological find has emerged from a local quarry in Consthum, capturing the attention of scientists at the Natural History Museum.
Among a collection of fossils recently unearthed in the municipality of Parc Hosingen, one discovery stands out: the fossilised remains of a giant sea scorpion, or Eurypterid, previously unseen in the Grand Duchy.
Dr Ben Thuy, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum leading the excavation, expressed delight at the find, which he described as "extremely rare, even on a global scale." Describing the sea scorpion fossil as unusually large at 50 cm, Dr Thuy estimates the creature's original size to have been up to one and a half meters. These ancient sea scorpions once reigned as apex predators and are considered to be the largest arthropods known to have existed.
The fossils were discovered in a rock layer dating back approximately 406 million years. Contrary to what their informal name may suggest, giant sea scorpions lived in river deltas, rather than the open sea.
Dr Thuy credits the success of the excavation to the collaborative efforts of the Rinnen company, which operates the quarry, and scientific collaborators, i.e., amateur scientists who work for the museum on a voluntary basis.
The excavation operation at the site has been going on for two years. The museum has an agreement with the quarry operator that allows the museum to carry out its research for free, provided it does not interfere with daily operations.
Excavations in quarries are ideal for palaeontological studies due to the continual exposure of new rock layers. Consthum currently serves as the primary site for such excavations in the country, as conservation concerns complicate efforts elsewhere.
The remains of the giant sea scorpion will now be prepared and analysed over the next few months. They will eventually be exhibited at the Natural History Museum and made accessible to the public.
