Today’s visit for Team Taj Mahal was even more educational than expected! We dived deep into the history of early palaeontology and some of the more “unique” traces left behind by prehistoric life.

The Legacy of Mary Anning: We spent time learning about Mary Anning, the pioneering fossil hunter from Lyme Regis. It was fascinating to hear how she discovered the first complete Ichthyosaur skeleton when she was just twelve years old. The museum’s collection of marine reptiles really brought her story to life, showing how her work changed our understanding of “sea monsters” and prehistoric extinction.

Fossilized “Dino Poo”: A major highlight for the group was seeing (and learning about) coprolites—fossilized dinosaur dung!

We learned that Mary Anning was actually one of the first people to seriously study these.

By looking at what’s inside—like bits of bone, fish scales, or shells—scientists can figure out exactly what these ancient creatures had for dinner. It’s a “trace fossil” that tells a much bigger story than just bones alone.

Behaviour was amazing and it was our pleasure to take Team Taj Mahal.