Stonesfield Olivers discover dinosaurs?

Shane Bywaters · Guru

RE: Stonesfield Olivers discover dinosaurs?

jane · Senior Member

Hi Shane

It is great to see that fantastic letter from David Oliver once again. How lucky his descendants are to be able to see his handwriting. The fact that the letter is to William Buckland is even more exciting. I wonder if the specimens David Oliver found are still at the Natural History Museum in Oxford?

Jane

P.S. I haven't forgotten about writing up the story of Joshua & Solomon: things are very hectic right now. But hopefully in a week or so I should have a bit more time.

Shane Bywaters · Guru

Hello,

Following up my 'that will have to wait until the Oliver Family Day in April' posting above and the subsequent presentation of the 'Oliver letter' that duly followed at the Oliver Family History Day back in April, I've now added a new article to the 'Facts and Happenings' section of the website which illustrates the letter.

It's quite something.

Thanks,
Shane

jane · Senior Member

By coincidence, yesterday's 'Witney Gazette' has an article called 'Amazing trip back in time', with a photo of five children from Stonesfield Primary School with a replica of the Megalosaurus jawbone from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The article says that William Buckland found the original fossil, but perhaps it was another Stonesfield slate digger who really found it....

Shane Bywaters · Guru

Hi Jane,

What an amazing story, that is so interesting - thanks for posting.

I do actually have something to add to the story that may well bringing it life even more - however - that will have to wait until the Oliver Family Day in April.

Sorry ....

Shane

jane · Senior Member

After a childhood holiday in Lyme Regis I became fascinated with fossils, so I was interested when I moved to the Witney area to learn of the importance of Stonesfield in the history of palaeontology. The first dinosaur to be described scientifically (by William Buckland) came from Stonesfield, and was called Megalosaurus.

I've just discovered today that Buckland offered money to Stonesfield slate miners for interesting specimens they found. Among Rev. Buckland's papers, which survive at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, is a letter from ...... you guessed it, an Oliver! David Oliver wrote to Buckland in 1814, inviting him to come and see bones discovered by himself, John Oliver and Charles Hawes. The spelling is wonderfully eccentric:

'Stonesfield Dec[ember] the 3 [1814]

Rev Sir, this comes to lot you no ther is a large bone found in a sleat pit very perfect not Broken in a large stone the property of Charles Hawes, Sleat Digger.

John Oliver have leatly found a Large Bone very much Broken supposed to be some part of a horse.

December the 1 I, David Oliver, found a large Rib Bone abought two feet in length but very mutch Broken. Sir, if you please to come and see them.

I am your Homble Servnt David Oliver'

Buckland did indeed go to see the fossils, and offered 11s.6d. for them. As reported by Nina Morgan in her article in the latest edition of Geoscientist Online, it seems he owed David Oliver money either for these or an earlier batch of fossils.

Buckland got the credit for the discovery of dinosaurs, but perhaps it was an Oliver who dug up those all-important Megalosaurus fossils?