A hillfort in County Wicklow (Ireland) has been declared the largest known nucleated prehistoric settlement in the British Isles by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast.  The study, published by Cambridge University Press, has won the prestigious Prehistoric Society’s James Dyer prize for 2025.  The research centres around a series of ancient hillforts known as the Baltinglass hillfort cluster.

The research team proposes that the site is Ireland’s earliest proto-town.  This settlement is two thousand years older than the Viking towns that were thought to present the oldest known settlements in Ireland.  The study, funded by UK Research and Innovation, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Prehistoric Society also highlights a possible water cistern at the site.  If confirmed, this would represent the first feature of its kind synonymous with an Irish hillfort.

Photogrammetry map of location of roundhouse footprints at Brusselstown Ring as part of a study into the Baltinglass Hillfort cluster. Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast.

Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast

The “Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster”

A group of prehistoric hillforts known as the “Baltinglass hillfort cluster” has been studied by archaeologists for decades.  These settlements, located in the beautiful and verdant Wicklow County form a “necklace” of thirteen forts.  Seven of these settlements are substantial and described as major hillforts.  Over the years numerous enclosures and evidence of occupation have been identified.  These settlements date from the early Neolithic to the late Bronze Age (circa 3700–800 BC).

Within this cluster, Brusselstown Ring has previously been identified as one of the largest hillforts in Ireland, comprising two large ramparts on neighbouring hill summits – a highly unusual formation in Ireland, Britain or continental Europe.  The site covers an area of 41.9 hectares in total.

The Queen’s University-led study examined existing archaeological data from Brusselstown Ring.  In addition, new fieldwork was undertaken. Survey work carried out revealed 288 potential dwellings.  However, aerial reconnaissance identified at list six hundred topographical anomalies consistent with prehistoric house platforms.  Project team members combined existing data with their own findings to locate nearly a hundred potential roundhouses within the inner enclosure.  Furthermore, evidence of around five hundred more was discovered proximal to the inner enclosure.

A test trench with hearth feature, signalling prehistoric habitation at the Baltinglass Hillfort cluster. Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast.

Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast

Substantial Settlements

Even if not every one of the anomalies represents a dwelling, this would still make it the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement in the British Isles.  For comparison, only a handful of other sites have more than a few dozen roundhouse footprints and not all of them are enclosed, according to lead author of the research project, Dr Dirk Brandherm from Queen’s University Belfast.

Dr Brandherm (School of Natural and Built Environment) confirmed that the fieldwork would continue.  However, if a water cistern is confirmed this would be a significant discovery.

Dr Brandherm stated:

“There has been extensive survey work at the site over the past two decades, but critical questions regarding the date, development and function of both the enclosing elements and the internal settlement remained unanswered, which is why we embarked on this new series of excavations. Our discoveries challenge previous conceptions of prehistoric settlement organisation, showing a level of social complexity, community cohesion, and regional importance not fully recognised before.”

Studies like this help to enrich our understanding of human populations and activity during the Stone Age and into the Bronze Age.  They provide insights into how settlements were established, on social interaction and landscape use.

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast during recent excavations. Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast.

Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast

Radiocarbon Dating Confirms the Age of the Sites

Researchers employed sophisticated radiocarbon dating to assess the age of the sites.  The data suggests occupation at the Brusselstown Ring during the Late Bronze Age, between c.1210 and 780 BC. Previously, the Vikings had been credited with having founded the first towns in Ireland.  Some house platforms thought to have been erected by Viking settlers date from the Iron Age (circa 750 to 400 BC).  However, this new study demonstrates that settlements in County Wicklow are much older.

Commenting on the significance of this research Dr Brandherm added:

“I very much hope that this new knowledge will not only add to our knowledge but help us preserve Brusselstown Ring as a site of major national and international heritage importance, connecting us to the island of Ireland’s deep past. It also opens avenues for further research into prehistoric societal development, helping to fill gaps in archaeological and historical records.”

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from Queen’s University Belfast in the compilation of this article.

The multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur site: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

Yesterday, we reviewed our blog articles covering the period January to June 2025.  Today, we examine the Everything Dinosaur blog posts that went live over the second part of the year.

To read the first part of our weblog review: Favourite and Most Popular Blog Posts of 2025 (Part 1).

In July, the countdown towards the UK’s first dinosaur convention (DinoCon) began in earnest. Spinosaurs from the Iberian Peninsula were highlighted. In addition, a new herrerasaurian dinosaur from India was described (Maleriraptor kuttyi) and we updated American customers on U.S. tariffs.

We looked at new books, new Nanmu Studio models and welcomed the return of the Rebor Komodo dragon model. Pre-ordering began for our first dinosaur model the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex. Also in July, researchers described a new species of Triassic pterosaur. Eotephradactylus mcintireae and it represents North America’s oldest known pterosaur.

North America’s oldest pterosaur described to date Eotephradactylus mcintireae disturbs some frogs whilst catching a ray-finned fish. An early turtle is seen in the background, and the bones of an armoured crocodilian are visible. Picture credit: Brian Engh.

Picture credit: Brian Engh

DinoCon, New Dinosaur Discoveries and Marine Reptiles Too

It was a very hot August. However, our warehouse was cool, and we blogged about the suppleness of sauropod tails, PNSO figures and the environmentally friendly packaging we were developing for the Everything Dinosaur Evolution range. Marine reptile fans learned about a newly described plesiosaur from the Posidonia Shale deposits of Germany (Plesionectes longicollum). In addition, a giant ichthyosaur fossil was discovered in Australia and a sail-backed ornithopod from the Wessex Formation was described.

Everything Dinosaur examined a “punk rock dinosaur” – Spicomellus afer and had our Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex model featured in “Prehistoric Times” magazine.

We were thrilled to be able to take part in the inaugural DinoCon, it was hard work but lots of fun.

To read more about DinoCon 2025: DinoCon – A Fantastic Success.

Sue at DinoCon 2025. A huge thank you to all the organisers, helpers, volunteers, security, vendors, medical staff and everyone else who helped to make DinoCon 2025 such an incredible success. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Spicomellus, Surprising Dinosaurs and Solving a Pterosaur Mystery in September.

September brought cooler weather and an array of fascinating articles. A study into the oldest insect infestation known was published and the armour of Spicomellus afer was reconstructed. We got down in the grass with grasshoppers, explored eurypterids and welcomed new Haolonggood figures. The Gobi Desert gave us a new pachycephalosaur species (Zavacephale rinpoche) and we mourned the loss of American palaeontologist Mark Norell. A dinosaur fan sent us an Everything Dinosaur animation and we learned about a new Patagonian megaraptor (Joaquinraptor casali).

A highlight for us was the article that explained how two juvenile Pterodactylus fossils helped researchers solve a puzzle about the Solnhofen deposits.

To read more about this pterosaur mystery: Juvenile Pterodactylus Fossils Solve Solnhofen Mystery.

A hatchling Pterodactylus caught in a storm. Picture credit: Rudolf Hima.

Picture credit: Rudolf Hima

The Everything Dinosaur Blog in October Featured a new Dorset Ichthyosaur

Everything Dinosaur started October with a bang! We were nominated for two prestigious business awards. Haolonggood sauropods featured along with the newly arrived Beasts of the Mesozoic Cyberzoic figures. A rare fossil find from Scotland provided clues to the evolution of snakes and lizards. In addition, our chum Dr Dean Lomax published a paper on new ichthyosaur from the “Jurassic Coast” of Dorset (Xiphodracon goldencapensis), and his new book was published! We reported upon a recently described theropod from the Wales and we kept tabs on pre-orders for the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex. Newsletters, bronze statues and dinosaur drawings all featured.

However, our favourite post concerned the introduction of a digital product passport for the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex. It is the first dinosaur model in the world to incorporate this new technology. It provides customers with unprecedented access to product information.

A view of the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex digital product passport. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the award-winning and innovative Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex models: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Tyrannosaurus Figures.

No Let Up in November on the Everything Dinosaur Blog

CollectA announced new prehistoric animal figures in November. We got our teeth into early tetrapod jawbones and recalled our tour of the London Natural History Museum gardens. Haolonggood Sauroposeidon models featured along with the new Rebor Beelzebufo ampinga figures. Everything Dinosaur won an award and the link between Koalas and “marsupial lions” was explained. A film company visited our warehouse and flew a drone fitted with a camera. The Nanotyrannus taxon was confirmed. Everything Dinosaur reported on the study that confirmed beyond all reasonable doubt of the presence of a second tyrannosaur taxon in the Hell Creek Formation.

A pack of Nanotyrannus attacks a juvenile T. rex. Picture credit: Anthony Hutchings

Picture credit: Anthony Hutchings

To read about the Nanotyrannus study: Nanotyrannus is Confirmed.

December Blog Posts

December provided bumper sales for Everything Dinosaur. However, we still made time to publish blog posts. We reviewed new Rebor figures, looked forward to the arrival of the PNSO Taurovenator figure and published rare photographs of the Nanotyrannus dig site from 1942. Our customer service was praised, and we reported upon remarkable “drop crocs” from Australia.

A new video featuring the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex was published along with a new paper reinforcing the validity of Nanotyrannus. We also received our four-hundredth 5-star Google review!

We celebrated the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the Tristan T. rex skeleton at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, examined the impact of our partnership with an Australian technology company and received a badge for our website highlighting our successful collaborations with local businesses.

Sue and Mike from Everything Dinosaur with their numerous awards. The company won the Excellence in Collaboration award and received Highly Commended for their international sales. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Thus, we conclude our two-part series reviewing some of the highlights from our blog this year. What exciting discoveries, product updates and fossil finds will we cover in 2026?

The multi-award-winning website of Everything Dinosaur: Prehistoric Animal Figures and Dinosaurs.

Today, we reflect on the first six months of 2025 and look at the most popular and favourite Everything Dinosaur blog posts of 2025.  Let’s look back at some of the stories that we have covered in the first six months of this year.

In January we wrote about the remarkable dinosaur track site uncovered in Oxfordshire, that was to be featured by many global news outlets in the summer. New research into pterosaurs was highlighted along with a study into sabre-tooth cats and their iconic teeth. Everything Dinosaur won an award for customer service and in addition, we were officially rated as “excellent”. Haolonggood, Mojo Fun and Rebor introduced new prehistoric animal figures and Everything Dinosaur published exclusive news about Papo model retirements. Moreover, a new theropod dinosaur from Mexico was announced. However, our standout post featured the remarkable discovery of an azhdarchid pterosaur bone that preserves a bite mark from a Cretaceous crocodilian.

The juvenile Cryodrakon neck bone (bottom right) with an adult neck bone (top). Picture credit: University of Reading.

Picture credit: University of Reading

To read more about this pterosaur news story: Rare Cretaceous Pterosaur Fossil Reveals Bite from a Crocodilian.

February Posts – New Figures, Hateg Island Sauropods and New Insights into Plesiosaurs

New prehistoric animal figures from CollectA, Haolonggood and Nanmu Studio were discussed. Mass spectrometry revealed traces of preserved collagen within the hip bones of an Edmontosaurus and ichthyosaur illustrations were featured. We had a fossil hunt at a classical music venue, highlighted research into flight aerodynamics and pterosaur evolution. Furthermore, we looked at eurypterid anatomy and celebrated the birthday of Sir Charles Darwin. Moreover, Everything Dinosaur received their Platinum Trusted Service Award from Feefo and sauropods from Hateg Island were discussed.

The most popular article concerned plesiosaur soft tissue. Writing in the academic journal “Current Biology” researchers outlined the first in-depth analysis of plesiosaur integument. The research was led by Lund University (Sweden). The study showed that some plesiosaurs had smooth skin on their bodies and small scales on the flippers. Flipper hydrodynamics and plesiosaur locomotion were fundamentally changed.

Skeleton of the new plesiosaur at the Urwelt-Museum Hauff in Holzmaden, Germany. Picture credit: Klaus Nilkens/Urwelt-Museum Hauff.

Picture credit: Klaus Nilkens/Urwelt-Museum Hauff

March was Exceptionally Busy

March was a busy month. We reported upon a unique two-fingered therizinosaur (Duonychus tsogtbaatari) from Mongolia. New Nanmu Studio and Cyberzoic articulated figures landed. PNSO announced more ceratopsian figures and a rare Scottish dinosaur specimen was classified as a probable ornithopod. We looked at amphibians with new research into ancient temnospondyls and examined the frogspawn in the office pond. Furthermore, Rebor announced two Beelzebufo ampinga figures.

In addition, it was announced that Everything Dinosaur was to be a main sponsor for the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival. However, the most popular post was the announcement of a new dinosaur book by our friend Dr Mark Witton. The book entitled “Tyrant King A Natural History of Tyrannosaurus rex” became a best seller in 2025.

The fabulous front cover of the new book “King Tyrant A Natural History of Tyrannosaurus rex” by Dr Mark P. Witton. Dr Witton is an accomplished author and palaeoartist as well as a highly-respected palaeontologist. Naturally, this stunning T. rex artwork on the front cover was created by the author. Picture credit: Princeton University Press.

Picture credit: Princeton University Press

To read about this new dinosaur book: A New Tyrannosaurus Book by Dr Mark Witton.

Trade Wars, Tariffs, Tameryraptor and a Trio of “Dire Wolves” on the Everything Dinosaur Blog

In April, we reported the milestone of 4,000 subscribers on our YouTube channel along with further details of our sponsorship of the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival. The UK’s first ever dinosaur convention (DinoCon) was announced. We reported on a new carcharodontosaurid dinosaur from North Africa (Tameryraptor markgrafi) and we welcomed new Safari Ltd figures in stock. Our chums Dr Dean Lomax and palaeo-reconstruction artist Bob Nicholls announced plans for a follow-up to their highly-successful book “Locked in Time” and we reported the President of the United States announcing a series of “Reciprocal Tariffs” on goods coming into the United States. These tariffs have had a profound effect on U.S. trade, especially in goods made in China. Thankfully, we have been extremely proactive and have put measures in place to support our American customers.

The most controversial story we covered was also from America. An American biotech firm claimed that gene editing techniques they had developed had permitted them to create three dire wolves. The claims made by Colossal Biosciences divided the scientific community. The three young wolves named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi are not Aenocyon dirus.

To read more: A Remarkable Claim – The De-extinction of the Dire Wolf.

A photograph of the two males (Romulus and Remus) aged three months. These canids born 10/1/2024 were claimed to be Aenocyon dirus.  Picture credit: Colossal Biosciences.

Picture credit: Colossal Biosciences

The Everything Dinosaur Blog Features Synapsid Skin, Spinosaurus, Early Amniotes and the Beginning of the Evolution!

We kept the pace up on the Everything Dinosaur blog throughout May featuring an array of news stories and announcements. We honoured Sir David Attenborough and wished him many happy returns on is ninety-ninth birthday. The Asian origins of T. rex were explored and a new titanosaur from northern Patagonia (Chadititan calvoi) was announced. In addition, we examined a study on the fossilised skin of ancient synapsids, provided more information about our plans for the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival and discussed Spinosaurus. We celebrated turtles, published a post on early amniote evolution and looked at the Papo Corythosaurus figure.

The big news was the announcement of Everything Dinosaur’s brand new range of dinosaur figures.  Welcome to the Evolution!

The official launch of the Everything Dinosaur Evolution brand was timed to coincide with the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.

To view the first dinosaur models from Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Tyrannosaur Models.

Come and meet Mike and Sue from Everything Dinosaur at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2025. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Arctic birds nesting alongside dinosaurs, the last lunch of an Australian titanosaur and ungulate evolution all featured in June. We even found time to discuss a newly described Mongolian tyrannosauroid (Khankhuuluu mongoliensis), known as the “Prince of Dragons”. However, June saw Everything Dinosaur at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival and as one of the main sponsors we had top billing. In addition, we had the official launch of the new Everything Dinosaur Evolution range of prehistoric animal figures.

Palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax highlights some of the amazing details on the figure and its display base that reflect the fossil record. Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax.

Picture credit: Dr Dean Lomax

Furthermore, a new species of Morrison Formation non-cerapodan neornithischian was named (Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae) and it was announced that the Morrison Formation was one of the candidate formations for the next group of four Everything Dinosaur Evolution figures.

After the EDE001 T. rex and the rest of the Hell Creek Formation series, where does the Everything Dinosaur Evolution development team go next? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Thus, we conclude the first part of the review of our blog posts 2025. Part two examining the favourite and most popular Everything Dinosaur blog posts will be published tomorrow.

In the meantime, here is the multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Prehistoric Animal Models.

A new digital tool has been developed to help archaeologists map the location of ancient Doggerland settlements.  The interactive tool has been developed by researchers at the University of Bradford (UK).  It charts the evolution (and demise) of the Ice Age landmass that once connected Britain to mainland Europe.  This innovative technology has been developed as part of a large project entitled “Unpath’d Waters”.  The objective is to map all the sunken land associated with the British Isles during the last glacial maximum.

Dr Philip Murgatroyd project modelling lead with map showing Doggerland. Picture credit: University of Bradford.

Picture credit: University of Bradford

How Doggerland Changed over 20,000 Years

The simulation tool is available on YouTube. In addition, an animation has been uploaded illustrating how Doggerland changed over 20,000 years.  The animation begins at the height of the last glacial maximum when sea levels were at their lowest.  Furthermore, it moves forward in time to around 5,000 years ago when Doggerland was finally fully submerged.

The animation and simulation depict Doggerland as a country stretching across the North Sea, then shrinking to an archipelago, then a single island. Finally, all the land is swallowed by the waves. The inundation of this area of land was precipitated by an event known as the Storegga tsunami, which followed an underwater landslide roughly the size of Scotland that occurred off the coast of Norway about 8,000 years ago.

The creator of the interactive, digital map and the Doggerland animation is Dr Phil Murgatroyd (University of Bradford).

He explained:

“This interactive map is available to anyone to download and use, it shows the area of the North Sea that once comprised Doggerland – a land bridge between the UK and Europe, which is now beneath the waves. The map allows people to see what the landscape looked like from 5,000 years ago all the way back to 20,000 years ago. The landscape is constantly transforming. It used to be above the sea, now it’s below the sea. This simulation provides a tool to see how that unfolded.”

Free to Use Software

The software is free to access and download.  It can be easily controlled by an X-box compatible game controller.  In addition, it can be operated using a standard Windows PC. The simulation forms the base of a more sophisticated version for home use.  Simulated humans live within the small-scale environment and the user can influence their activities.  This version is currently under development.

A digital map showing the location of Doggerland. This interactive tool can help archaeologists search for ancient Doggerland settlements. Picture credit: University of Bradford.

Picture credit: University of Bradford

To read an article from 2023 about a grant awarded to the University of Bradford to explore underwater landscapes: Prehistoric Landscapes Research Project.

Hunting for Ancient Doggerland Settlements

The researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help them locate “Goldilocks zones”.  These are areas where human settlements are likely to be found. The AI will help pinpoint evidence of ancient Doggerland settlements under the North Sea. In total, an area of seabed roughly the size of England and Scotland combined has been mapped.  The AI will be used to narrow down the search for evidence of Stone Age settlements. Once above the sea, they were gradually inundated by successive sea-level rises, disappearing beneath the waves about 8,000 years ago.

Commenting on the significance of this new technology, the leader of Bradford’s Submerged Landscapes Research Centre, Professor Vince Gaffney stated that surveys of ancient landscapes can provide a better understanding of climate change.

The professor added:

“So far, the only evidence we have that people once actually lived on what is now the bottom of the North Sea – and other oceanic areas – have been chance finds dragged up by accident by trawlers or through dredging. But do we know people once lived on what is now the seabed? It’s a certainty, it’s just a case of identifying what we call the ‘Goldilocks zone’, which combines three variables: whether people lived there, whether evidence of that has been preserved, and whether it is still accessible today.”

The AI can be used to help the archaeologists make predictions about the likely location of ancient Doggerland settlements.

A Harpoon Made from a Red Deer Antler

In 1931, a trawler named Colinda dragged up a harpoon sixty miles off the Yorkshire coast.  This artefact is known as the “Colinda Harpoon”.  The object is a fraction under twenty-two centimetres in length.  It is a beautifully crafted fish harpoon made from an antler from a Red deer.  Recently, archaeologists announced the discovery of an 11,000-year-old stone wall (originally built on dry land) in the Bay of Mecklenburg between Denmark and Germany. This is the latest in a series of underwater finds that point to a time when humans inhabited vast areas of the European Continental shelf, much of which is now under water.

Professor Gaffney commented:

“The only lands on Earth that have not been explored in any depth by science are those that have been lost to the oceans. Global warming at the end of the last Ice Age led to the inundation of vast landscapes that had once been home to thousands of people. These lost lands hold a unique and largely unexplored record of settlement and colonisation linked to climate change over millennia. Amongst the most significant is Doggerland. Occupying much of the North Sea basin between continental Europe and Britain it would have been a heartland of human occupation and central to the process of re-settlement and colonisation of north-western Europe during the Mesolithic and the Neolithic.”

However, because much of that land has already been earmarked by the Government for offshore wind development, including the world’s largest wind farm, archaeologists are keen to work with developers to ensure archaeological concerns are heard.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Bradford in the compilation of this article.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.

Just time to wish everyone a “Happy New Year”!  There are going to be some exciting new developments at Everything Dinosaur in 2025. As we step into a brand new year (2025), we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our customers and social media followers. Your passion fuels our creativity and drives us to bring you the best models and collectibles.

In 2025, we are excited to continue our journey together.  We have some amazing plans, but more about them later.  We look forward to continuing our blog.  This year, we will pass the 7,000 article mark, that’s quite an achievement.

Happy New Year from Mike and Sue at Everything Dinosaur

Thank you for being part of our community. Here’s to a roaring New Year filled with adventure, discovery, and countless prehistoric moments!

Everything Dinosaur wishing all our customers and social media fans and followers a Happy New Year 2025. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We wish everyone a “Happy New Year”, a peaceful and prosperous one.  2025 is going to be interesting…

Stay curious and inspired!

Best wishes Mike and Sue.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.

Today, we conclude our review of the Everything Dinosaur blog in 2024.  We look at our favourite and most popular articles posted up between July and December (2024). There are a lot of articles and posts to choose from. Between July 1st and today, we have written one hundred and ninety-one posts.  We have tried to cover a wide range of topics.  For example, new fossil discoveries, new dinosaurs, model updates, model collecting news, scientific discoveries and of course, information about Everything Dinosaur.

To read our first article in this short series, covering favourite blog posts in the first half of the year: Favourite and Most Popular Blog Posts of 2024 (Part 1).

The Everything Dinosaur Blog (July and August)

In July (2024) we wrote about a new deep-snouted tyrannosaur from China (Asiatyrannus xui). In addition, we examined ancient brachiopods and informed readers about changes to the Everything Dinosaur website. A Stegosaurus skeleton sold for over $44 million USD, and we introduced new PNSO models such as Tyrannotitan and Baryonyx. Moreover, we wrote about a new basal tetrapod named in honour of the late Professor Jenny Clack and a newly described Isle of Wight dinosaur that honours the late Nick Chase. There were prehistoric grapes, a mammalian brain study and Everything Dinosaur videos too.

However, our favourite post of July focused upon a paper published in the journal “Nature” that revealed that mammals in the Middle Jurassic may have lived much longer than their modern relatives.

National Museums Scotland’s Dr Elsa Panciroli examines two Krusatodon kirtlingtonensis fossils. Picture credit: Duncan Mc Glynn.

Picture credit: Duncan Mc Glynn

To read this blog post: Rare Jurassic Mammaliaform Fossils Reveal Details About Ontogeny.

The following month (August 2024), we explored dinosaurs and the autism spectrum, the evolution of cacti, the giant marsupial Diprotodon and our digital training. In addition, we visited “Snowball Earth” examined dinosaur dioramas and encountered a new titanosaur from Patagonia – Titanomachya gimenezi. Furthermore, we received a remarkable abelisaurid illustration and continued our regular reviews of “Prehistoric Times” magazine.

August was a busy time for the model manufacturer Rebor. They made several new model announcements and their remarkable “zombie rexes” came into stock.

What an amazing pair of zombie dinosaurs! The Rebor Zombie T. rex Cannibal Corpse Jungle (left) and the Plain colour variant (right). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Rebor models available from Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

September and October on the Blog

September was a busy month on the Everything Dinosaur blog.  We continued our support for the TetZooCon (the last ever to take place), learned about a troop of monkeys that found a fossil, ghost sharks from New Zealand and how dinosaur models can help with dissertations. We looked at Albertosaurus, introduced a new duck-billed dinosaur from Mexico (Coahuilasaurus lipani) and reflected on the phylogeny of hadrosaurs.

Everything Dinosaur’s customer service record is outstanding. We were asked to take part in a video highlighting how we use digital technology to focus on helping customers. A really good video featuring us was made… but there were also plenty of bloopers.

So, we posted up a short video highlighting our mistakes in front of the camera: Everything Dinosaur and Some Brilliant Bloopers.

With darker nights and Halloween there was plenty to keep us occupied in October. Sadly, Professor Dong Zhiming one of the most influential palaeontologists of the last sixty years passed away. His contribution to the Earth Sciences will not be forgotten. At Everything Dinosaur, we received an “Exceptional” rating for customer service from Feefo. New models came thick and fast, from Haolonggood, PNSO and there were more Beasts of the Mesozoic figures. The giant arthropod Arthropleura was given a face, and we took a close look at the science behind avoiding asteroid impacts. The Pachyrhinosaurus skull “Big Sam” was on the move, and we posted up more videos.

Five out of five for customer service.

Team members were contacted about the discovery of the smallest non-avian dinosaur eggs to be described to date (Minioolithus ganzhouensis).  We were presented with fantastic dinosaur artwork.

Our favourite post revolved around the discovery of one of the oldest dinosauromorphs known. Gondwanax paraisensis is thought to be a silesaurid: Shedding Light on Dinosaur Origins.

A life reconstruction of Gondwanax paraisensis. Picture credit: Matheus Fernandes Gadelha.

Picture credit: Matheus Fernandes Gadelha

November and December on the Everything Dinosaur Blog

New CollectA prehistoric animal models were introduced including an amazing 1:20 scale Phorusrhacos model. The artwork of Richard Bizley was celebrated, and we welcomed the Papo Ampelosaurus dinosaur model. Sue was invited to speak at a conference and a fifty-year German fossil mystery was resolved. We looked at transformational digital technology and debunked dinosaur myths with the very talented Dr Darren Naish. A new oviraptorosaur was announced (Yuanyanglong bainian) and a study was published highlighting global cooling and the rise of the Dinosauria.

The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Phorusrhacos model.

The picture (above) shows the new for 2025 CollectA Deluxe Phorusrhacos figure.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe figures in stock: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

Our favourite post featured a new scientific paper that concluded that the remarkable vertebrate fossils associated with the Yixian Formation of north-eastern China were not caused by volcanic eruptions.

To read more: Yixian Formation Fossils Not Caused by Pompeii-like Events.

The End of the Year

December was a busy month in our warehouse. We had a record number of Christmas parcels to send out to customers. Our blog was busy too. We introduced the spectacular Rebor “Kiss” island version as well as new Safari Ltd models. Innovative research highlighted the role humans played in prehistoric elephant extinction. We looked at new dinosaur books for the festive season, dinosaur-themed wrapping paper and thanked all our lovely customers for their cards and gifts.

The evolution of the jaw in the Squamata was outlined and we examined the new General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) and checked our compliance.

Another new dinosaur from China was discussed (Archaeocursor) and we assessed the status of the taxon Saurophaganax. Model retirements from Safari Ltd were announced and we provided information on a new paper that concluded that tyrannosaurs were present in southern England during the Early Cretaceous.

An Early Cretaceous floodplain around 135 million years ago. A large spinosaurid chases off some tyrannosaurs (left) from the carcass of an ornithopod. Dromaeosaurids (bottom right) dart in to snatch what they can as the larger theropods are preoccupied. Picture credit: Anthony Hutchings

Picture credit: Anthony Hutchings

To read about this new theropod research: Wadhurst Clay Formation Theropods Including Tyrannosaurs.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“This concludes our run through of our blog posts for 2024.  We had fun looking back at all the articles we had published.  In total, we wrote three hundred and seventy-five posts this year.  That’s quite an effort.  The Everything Dinosaur blog will surpass seven thousand posts in 2025. Wishing everyone a happy new year!”

Happy New Year!

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

As we approach the end of the year, it is time to reflect on some of the articles featured on the Everything Dinosaur blog.  We thought it would be interesting to review some of our blog posts.  After all, we try and post every day and as a result, we have produced over three hundred and sixty articles.

Here is part one, covering January to June (2024).

January and February 2024

Everything Dinosaur won (once again) the coveted Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for outstanding customer service. We examined giant, predatory worms of the Cambrian (Timoresbestia koprii) and Kuehneosaurs were confirmed in the Late Triassic of southwestern England.

An artist’s impression of a gliding reptile Kuehneosaurus. Picture credit: Mike Cawthorne.

Picture credit: Mike Cawthorne

Our favourite article was published on January the 11th. A new species of Tyrannosaurus (T. mcraeensis) was announced.

To read the blog post about the new Tyrannosaurus species: A New Tyrannosaurus Species.

In February, we looked into the remarkable history of fossil holes, dinosaur locomotion and we recorded the earliest ever frogspawn being found in the office pond (February 18th). In addition, we wrote about a new species of Jurassic pterosaur from Scotland (Ceoptera evansae). However, our favourite story from February 2024 concerned the discovery of a new Hell Creek theropod. Eoneophron was discovered by Oklahoma State University student Kyle Atkins-Weltman when studying dinosaur limb bones.

Limb bones of the newly described Hell Creek Formation caenagnathid Eoneophron infernalis. Picture credit: Kyle Atkins-Weldman.

Picture credit: Kyle Atkins-Weldman

March and April and the Everything Dinosaur Blog

March saw us examining the oldest forest known to science as well as ancient amphibians and new insights into Spinosaurus. 2024 marks the two hundredth anniversary of the formal, scientific description of a prehistoric animal that was later to be classified as a dinosaur. Megalosaurus was named and described in 1824. This dinosaur featured in a set of new stamps introduced by Royal Mail. There were stamps celebrating the life and works of Mary Anning in circulation too.

Our favourite article discussed a new species of iguanodontian from Western Portugal (Hesperonyx martinhotomasorum). A co-author of the paper Miguel Moreno-Azanza was photographed with a titanosaur egg fossil and one of our favourite CollectA models. A CollectA Ampelosaurus figure featuring in a news story about a new dinosaur discovery. How exciting!

Miguel Moreno-Azanza, from Zaragoza University, co-author of the Hesperonyx scientific paper with a titanosaur egg fossil and an Ampelosaurus model. Picture credit: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

Picture credit: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

As March saw lots of new dinosaur models from Schleich, PNSO and Haolonggood being introduced it seemed fitting to include a dinosaur model in a news story.

To view the range of CollectA Prehistoric Life models in stock: CollectA Not to Scale Prehistoric Life Models.

The International Union of Geological Sciences voted to reject the Anthropocene Epoch as a unit of geological time in April. Furthermore, we looked at old dinosaur drawings and several new dinosaur models. The highlight for us was the publishing of the scientific paper describing Ichthyotitan severnensis. This Late Triassic ichthyosaur could have been as big as a blue whale.

Everything Dinosaur’s Ichthyotitan article: Ichthyotitan – A Colossus of the Late Triassic.

May and June (2024)

In May, we once again featured a wide range of news stories. For example, we reported upon the evolutionary history of the Baobab tree, Glaswegian shrimp fossils and examined how artificial intelligence could up write pages on the Everything Dinosaur website. In addition, we wrote an article that challenged the findings from a paper that proposed that T. rex could have been as clever as a primate.

Scientific paper challenged: Famous Dinosaur Not as Clever as a Monkey.

The Eofauna T. rex dinosaur model introduced in May 2024.  In addition, a scientific paper published that month refuted claims that T. rex was as clever as a primate. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

June was a busy month for blog posts. We looked at new models from Haolonggood, Nanmu Studio and Beasts of the Mesozoic. In addition, a new Unenlagiine taxon was described from Patagonia (Diuqin lechiguanae). Carboniferous arachnids were examined, and we celebrated 170 years of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.

Our favourite blog post for June 2024 featured a new taxon of horned dinosaur.  The spectacular Lokiceratops was scientifically described.

Reconstruction of Lokiceratops surprised by a crocodilian in the 78-million-year-old swamps of northern Montana, USA. Picture credit: Andrey Atuchin for the Museum of Evolution in Maribo, Denmark.

Picture credit: Andrey Atuchin

The Everything Dinosaur Blog Review for 2024 (Part 1)

This concludes our review of the blog for the first part of 2024 (January to June).  The second part of this series will conclude by looking at the articles we posted between July and the end of the year.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

At Everything Dinosaur, we pride ourselves on offering not just a fantastic selection of dinosaur toys but also exceptional customer service. Sue wanted to highlight that Everything Dinosaur’s customer service was described by Feefo, an independent customer service rating company, as “exceptional”.  The UK-based mail order company had consistently earned top marks from customers.  It is time to celebrate our commitment to quality service.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur pointing out that the Cheshire business is rated as “Exceptional” for customer service by the independent rating company Feefo. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“Exceptional” Customer Service at Everything Dinosaur

Feefo have introduced new marketing assets recognising the service provided by their clients.  Everything Dinosaur receives hundreds of five-star customer reviews.  As a result, Feefo have officially described our customer service as “exceptional”.  We are amongst the highest ranked companies in the world for customer service.

To read more about the new Feefo marketing assets and to see further examples of the images that Everything Dinosaur is entitled to use: New Feefo Marketing Assets for Everything Dinosaur.

Receiving recognition from Feefo reinforces our dedication to ensuring that every customer has a positive experience. We believe that buying dinosaur toys should be enjoyable and stress-free. Whether you’re looking for a gift or expanding your collection, we ensure that each order is handled with care and promptness.

Celebrating with Dinosaur Toys

After a short interlude to highlight the company’s success, it’s back to packing prehistoric animal models and dinosaur toys. Dinosaur toys are more than just playthings; they inspire creativity and learning. Our extensive range consists of hundreds of different prehistoric animal models. Furthermore, we have a worldwide customer base, many of whom send into us feedback and reviews.  Customers consistently praise our knowledgeable staff, who are always ready to assist with model advice, product recommendations and queries.

Receiving recognition from Feefo reinforces our dedication to ensuring that every customer has a positive experience. We believe that buying dinosaur toys should be enjoyable and stress-free. Whether you’re looking for a gift or expanding your collection, we ensure that each order is handled with care and promptness.

Join the many satisfied customers who have experienced our top-notch service and explore our exciting range of dinosaur toys today. At Everything Dinosaur, we’re not just selling toys; we’re creating memorable experiences for collectors everywhere!

Visit the “exceptional” Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.

This week, despite the approach of hurricane Milton towards Florida, the spacecraft HERA launched from Cape Canaveral. It is heading towards the asteroids Didymos and Dimorphos.  The aim is to measure the consequences of an impact on Dimorphos by NASA’s DART spacecraft.  DART stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test.  This was the first-ever mission dedicated to investigating and demonstrating one method of asteroid deflection by changing an asteroid’s motion in space through a kinetic impact.  Asteroid impacts with Earth are rare but they can have devastating consequences.  For example, around sixty-six million years ago an object from space struck the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This led to the K-Pg extinction event (or at least it played a significant role in the mass extinction event).  Non-avian dinosaurs became extinct.

HERA is on its way to the two asteroids to determine precisely how the orbital period and shape of the asteroids have changed after the impact with DART.

HERA sent to investigate the impact consequences of DART on the small asteroid Dimorphos that orbits the larger asteroid Didymos.  These two missions are part of an on-going project to develop the ability to avoid planetary asteroid impacts.  Picture credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Picture credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

To read an earlier blog post about the search for the bolide that lead to a mass extinction event: Where Did the Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Come From?

Asteroid Impact Management by Deflection

The DART spacecraft collided with Dimorphos on the 26th of September 2022.  It was travelling at over 3.7 miles per second (6 kilometres per second). The nearly head-on collision has shortened the time it takes the small asteroid moonlet to orbit the much larger Didymos by thirty-three minutes.  The goal of the DART project was to influence the orbital period of both asteroids around each other.  HERA has now been sent on a two-year journey to the double asteroid to study how exactly the orbital period and shape of the asteroids have changed over a six-month period.

Researchers from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin were involved in both the DART and HERA projects.  The HERA mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) is now tasked with answering questions such as did an impact crater form on Dimorphos?  Was the entire asteroid altered?  What does the impact tell us about the constituents of these two bolides?

HERA will aim to create a detailed map of the surface and internal structure of the moonlet Dimorphos using high-resolution visual, laser-based, and radar data.

Ultimately, the objective is to develop the ability to deflect the trajectory of space objects.  If this can be done, then collisions with Earth can be avoided.

If only the Dinosauria had developed such a technology to avoid asteroid impacts…

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.