Exciting research has revealed that 135 million years ago, several meat-eating dinosaurs roamed the area around Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.
Led by the University of Southampton, this study uncovered evidence of tyrannosaurs, spinosaurs, and smaller Velociraptor-like dinosaurs in the region during the Early Cretaceous period.
The findings, published in Papers in Palaeontology on December 5, 2024, mark the first time tyrannosaurs have been identified in this area and from this time period.
The discovery was based on fossilized teeth, which are often more durable and easier to find than dinosaur bones.
Researchers used advanced techniques, including machine learning and phylogenetic analysis, to identify the teeth.
These methods helped pinpoint the presence of spinosaurs, medium-sized tyrannosaurs, and tiny dromaeosaurs, part of the Velociraptor family.
Dr. Chris Barker, the study’s lead author, explained: “Theropod dinosaurs—meat-eaters like tyrannosaurs—are rare in the Cretaceous rocks of southern England. This makes our discovery in East Sussex particularly exciting.
These teeth give us clues about the diversity of dinosaurs in this ancient ecosystem.”
Millions of years ago, Bexhill-on-Sea was a floodplain.
The teeth suggest that tyrannosaurs in this area were smaller than their famous relative, Tyrannosaurus rex, and likely hunted smaller prey, such as other reptiles and small dinosaurs.
The study also highlights a fascinating dinosaur community, where spinosaurs may have taken over kills from other predators.
Lucy Handford, a co-author of the study, said, “Assigning teeth to specific dinosaur groups can be tricky because similar traits can evolve in different lineages. Using several scientific techniques allowed us to make more confident identifications.”
The discovery of tyrannosaurs in these sediments is especially groundbreaking. Until now, no evidence of this group had been found in rocks of this age and location.
The fossils were collected over decades by Dave Brockhurst, a retired quarryman who has dedicated 30 years to finding treasures at Ashdown Brickworks.
Dave’s work has uncovered thousands of specimens, including fish scales, shark teeth, and even partial dinosaur skeletons.
He shared his excitement about the discovery: “I’ve always loved dinosaurs, and it’s amazing to think they lived so close to where I’ve worked for years. Finding dinosaur teeth is particularly thrilling because they’re so well-preserved.”
Theropod teeth are rare at this site—Dave has found only about ten examples. His contributions have been invaluable, with many of his discoveries now housed at Bexhill Museum.
Southern England is known for its rich dinosaur history, especially on the Isle of Wight.
However, the fossils found in East Sussex are older and less studied. Dr. Darren Naish, one of the study’s authors, said, “These East Sussex fossils fill a gap in our knowledge. For decades, we’ve wanted to know which theropod dinosaurs lived here, and now we finally have some answers.”
The study also shows how important museum collections and local collectors are for understanding the past. Dr. Neil Gostling, who supervised the research, said, “Projects like this highlight the value of preserving fossils and working with collectors and museums. There’s still so much to learn about dinosaurs, even 200 years after the first dinosaur was named.”
Several of the newly discovered dinosaur teeth are now on display at Bexhill Museum in East Sussex, offering the public a chance to see these incredible fossils up close.
This discovery not only expands our knowledge of Early Cretaceous dinosaurs but also highlights how much more there is to uncover. As Dr. Gostling puts it, “Dinosaur paleontology is alive and thriving, with new surprises waiting just beneath the surface.”
