On Air Now Topping In The Morning Wake up with Paul, Hayley, Emily and Heather 7:00am - 10:00am Jason Derulo - Ridin' Solo Schedule

University Students From Across England Taking Part In Yaverland Summer Dig

Yaverland's Dinosaur Isle is leading a dedicated dinosaur excavation, to provide specialist training for 55 university students from across the country.

The summer dig is taking place in Yaverland's rich, 125-million-year-old fossil beds.

This week will see visitors offered the chance to watch the dig and see the painstaking work involved.

Alex Peaker, collections officer of geology at Dinosaur Isle, said:

“The first couple of days of each dig will include leading a field trip and exposing the site; the latter three days are when we hope to find some impressive dinosaur remains.

“It’s great Dinosaur Isle can pass on its expertise and knowledge, which will help students gain valuable excavation skills, needed for their future vocation.”

Many significant dinosaur finds have been made on the Island.

Part of a Neovenator - a large, carnivorous dinosaur - was first spotted by holiday-makers in 1978 and excavated by Steve Hutt, former curator of Dinosaur Isle.

In 2009, the fossil of a small Pterosaur was found by Islander Daisy Morris when she was only four years old.

And just this month, researchers announced the discovery of the remains of Europe’s largest ever land-based predator dinosaur on the south-west coast of the Island.

The summer dig takes place from today (Monday June 27) until Friday July 1, between 10am and 4pm each day, on the beach at Yaverland.

If you keen to learn more about the Islands prehistoric past, visit: https://www.dinosaurisle.com/

More from Isle of Wight News