Hong Kong has made its first discovery of dinosaur fossils, found on a secluded, uninhabited island in the city’s UNESCO Global Geopark. Initial analysis by experts suggests the fossils belong to a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago, according to an official government statement. Further studies will be conducted to identify the exact species.
Experts believe that after the dinosaur’s death, it was initially buried by sand and gravel, possibly resurfaced by a flood, and later reburied at the site where it was found. The conservation department alerted the Antiquities and Monuments Office to sedimentary rocks containing what appeared to be vertebrate fossils, discovered on Port Island in Hong Kong’s northeastern waters.
The government has enlisted Chinese experts to lead further field investigations. Port Island will remain closed to the public from Wednesday until further notice to allow for excavations. The fossils will be displayed at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui beginning Friday. Additionally, a temporary public workshop is planned by the end of 2024, allowing visitors to observe the preparation of fossil specimens.
