A study led by the University of Southampton has revealed that East Sussex was home to diverse predatory dinosaurs 135 million years ago, including the earliest identified tyrannosaurs in the region. The research, published in Papers in Palaeontology, highlights the presence of various theropod groups, notably spinosaurs, mid-sized tyrannosaurs, and small dromaeosaurs, identified solely from fossilized teeth. These findings are significant as theropod fossils are rare in southern England’s Cretaceous sediments.
Utilizing advanced analysis techniques, the researchers successfully classified these isolated teeth, uncovering a predatory ecosystem that included diminutive tyrannosaurs, likely hunting smaller dinosaurs and reptiles. The discovery stemmed from over three decades of fossil collecting by retired quarryman Dave Brockhurst at Ashdown Brickworks, where he has recovered thousands of specimens, although theropods are seldom found.
These findings not only enrich our understanding of theropod diversity in southern England but also emphasize the importance of museum collections and dedicated collectors in uncovering paleontological history. The research underscores that significant discoveries in dinosaur palaeobiology continue to emerge, with several specimens now displayed at Bexhill Museum.
