In a field belonging to a farmer in Gloucestershire, UK, a variety of marine creatures were unearthed, including a three-dimensional fish fossil with an eyeball.

 

Estimates place the fossil’s age at about 183 million years. Picture courtesy of Dr. Dean Lomax

The extremely ancient fish was found in a field belonging to a farmer in Gloucestershire, UK. The three-dimensional fish, which features an eyeball, and other marine artifacts were unearthed alongside them, together with a variety of other creatures, from a pasture that had been used for grazing English Longhorn cattle. Their estimated age is 183 million years.

Toarichians were a period in the Early Jurassic, as fossil hunters Sally and Neville Hollingworth told IFLScience.

“Ilminster, Somerset’s Strawberry Bank Lagerstätte is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved prehistoric fauna, and this site near Stroud has produced a large number of similarly-aged marine vertebrate fossils from its exposed clay layers. In particular, a stratum of rock that has not been exposed since the late 19th century has been uncovered over the past week’s excavations at Kings Stanley, which provide a wealth of fossil material.

а geоlоgicаl treаsure trоve wаs uncоvered аt Cоurt Fаrm, Kings Stаnley, with hundreds оf limestоne nоdules crаcked оpen tо reveаl whаt’s inside. This wаs mаde pоssible by the cоmbined effоrts оf eight scientists whо were оnly equipped with а digger. аmоng them wаs Dr. Deаn Lоmаx, whо yоu might recаll frоm оur previоus pоst regаrding the biggest аnd mоst cоmplete Seа Drаgоn fоssil discоvered in the UK, which is аlsо аpprоximаtely 180 milliоn yeаrs оld.

 

Among the remarkable fossils found were pieces of skin and even eyes. Picture courtesy of Dr. Dean Lomax

After being submerged for a century, these limestone nodules were finally brought to light. They uncovered a surprising array of prehistoric creatures, including squids, marine reptiles, insects, and fish. One particular specimen even had its scales, fins, and eyeballs preserved in its fossil form. Very well preserved; in fact, it allowed scientists to fashion a three-dimensional representation of the Pachycormus fish, a member of the Jurassic period known for its ferocious-looking eyes.

What follows is a three-dimensional representation of the real findings.

 

Geology, palaeontology, evolution, and climate change are now all part of the studies taught at this property, which is already an intriguing farm in a picturesque location. Expert palaeontological conservator Nigel Larkin added, “They advise farmers to diversify, but this goes beyond that.”

In light of these remarkable discoveries, the crew has decided to keep digging into this incredible location. I will certainly publish the news on the Mission as they find more incredible 3D fossils.