From Doctor to Dino Detective: Unearthing New Prehistoric Species

Dr Jeremy Lockwood, a retired general practitioner from the Midlands, found a new passion after leaving medicine. Instead of spending his retirement playing golf or gardening, Jeremy chose to explore the world of dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight. His fascination with fossils began when he was a child, searching for ancient shells and trilobites in areas rich with prehistoric treasures. The thrill of discovery never left him, and he continued to visit the Isle of Wight with his own children, where he found dinosaur bones that reignited his curiosity.

When Jeremy brought his dinosaur bone discoveries to the local museum, he was told they all belonged to the same species. However, his medical background made him question this. He noticed that the bones looked too different to be from just one type of dinosaur. Driven by this observation, Jeremy decided to study paleontology at the University of Portsmouth, even though it meant spending long hours on research after retirement. His wife was not entirely happy about his new commitment, but Jeremy was determined to follow his hunch.

Jeremy began examining thousands of dinosaur bone fragments at the Dinosaur Museum on the Isle of Wight and the Natural History Museum in London. He focused on Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis, a plant-eating dinosaur related to Iguanodon. By measuring, photographing, and cataloging hundreds of bones, Jeremy noticed something unusual while reconstructing a skull. The skull had a bulbous nose, unlike the straight nose of Mantellisaurus, suggesting it was a different species. This discovery led to the identification of three new dinosaur species. Jeremy's medical training helped him see differences in bones that others missed. He believes there are still many fossils in museums waiting to be properly studied. Jeremy continues his research, often working at his kitchen table and searching for new finds on the Isle of Wight's beaches. He enjoys publishing his work, but says nothing is as exciting as discovering something new in the field.