French Customs Uncover Ancient Dinosaur Teeth During Routine Inspection

Nine fossilized teeth, including those from a Mosasaurus, were seized in a lorry headed to Italy, highlighting the complexities of fossil collection and export regulations.

French customs officers recently discovered an astonishing haul of nine dinosaur teeth during a routine inspection of a Spanish lorry on the A8 motorway, near the border with Italy. The routine check took place on January 28, when customs agents unearthed the fossils hidden within two parcels. These parcels were subsequently sent to a prehistory museum in Menton for examination.

After thorough analysis, experts confirmed that the teeth belonged to ancient reptiles that thrived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 72 to 66 million years ago, with origins traced back to Morocco. Notably, among the finds were the teeth of a Zarafasaura oceanis, a marine reptile measuring approximately 3 meters (10 feet), and three teeth from the notorious Mosasaurus, which could grow up to 12 meters in length.

Additionally, five teeth are believed to belong to a Dyrosaurus phosphaticus, an ancestor of modern crocodiles. The driver of the lorry claimed that the parcels were destined for delivery in the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan. Customs officials are currently investigating the intended recipients of these ancient artifacts.

While fossil collection is permissible in some jurisdictions, exporting them often necessitates a specific license. The unexpected discovery underscores the ongoing challenges that customs officials face in regulating the transportation of potentially valuable and historic specimens.