Event - Eraspiteron Bolsoveri; The Gracefully Winged of Bolsover (Creswell Crags)

This Autumn Creswell Crags sets out to unearth the real Beast of Bolsover. In 1978, two miners working in Bolsover’s Colliery  discovered a fossil of the oldest dragonfly known in the United Kingdom. Known locally as ‘The Beast Bolsover’ the dragonfly had a wingspan of over 20cm and belongs to the now-extinct variety of dragonflys known as ‘Protodonata.’ The fossil dates back to the Carbiniferous Period and would have been flying around 300 million years ago.  

For the first time in over 20 years, this nationally important geological specimen  returns to the region and is being celebrated in a series of events and exhibitions  at Creswell Crags.   Creswell Crags are now looking for  people to come forward with any  information to help tell the story of its discovery in an exhibition that will launch in April.   Project Officer, Rebecca Clay, says ‘ It is very exciting to have such an important part of the area’s natural history on display near to where it was discovered. It also gives us the opportunity to present the fossil in new way by telling the story of its discovery from the people that were there at the time’  

If you, or any one you know, remembers the discovery, please contact Rebecca Clay at Creswell Crags Visitor Centre on 01909 720378 or email Rebecca.clay@creswell-crags.org.uk.

From: http://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/News/2011/11/