Field Sites

Palaeontological Excursion in China with Sydney Grammar School 30/6/2002 to 15/7/2002

Highlights - Lufeng Dinosaur Museum

Lufeng, 104 km north-west of Kunming, is well known for its dinosaurs and Lufengpithecus (originally 'Ramapithecus') fossils. A dinosaur skeleton (Lufengosaurus huenei) was first discovered in 1938 by the Chinese palaeontologist Yang Zhongjian (referred as the father of Chinese vertebrate palaeontology) at Shawan Village in the Lufeng Basin. Dated to the Early Jurassic, it is considered to be the first complete dinosaur skeleton discovered in China. Lufeng County, called the homeland of dinosaurs in China, has since become famous for its dinosaur fossils. So far more than one hundred complete dinosaur skeletons have been found in the region, and many more are waiting to be unearthed. The Lufeng Formation, a 1000 m thick layer of dinosaur fossil-bearing rocks, consists of the sediments (lake and river deposits) of red-bed facies (an assemblage of red-coloured sandstones, mudstones and shales). Along with dinosaurs, other fossils including mammals, mammal-like reptiles, and crocodiles have also been found - notably early mammals such as Sinoconodon rigneyi.

In addition, an interesting primate fossil was discovered in May 1975 in Lufeng County. While digging for coal at Miaoshanpo some 9 km north of the county town, a villager of Shihuiba Village discovered a fossil tooth. After being examined, it was initially attributed to Ramapithecus lufengensis, and was thought to be, until the late 1970s, an early human ancestor (based primarily on its dentition). In the same year, palaeontologists made a joint excavation at the site and discovered an intact lower jawbone and a few single teeth. After examination it was determined that they belonged to a similar hominoid. In 1980, under the guidance of Professor Wu Rukang, a fairly complete fossil skull dated as 8 million years old was recovered at Shihuiba, together with more than 200 teeth and fossil bones of about forty species of animals.

Since the mid-1980s, hominoid specimens from Lufeng have been classified as Lufengpithecus lufengensis, which is recognised as a sexually dimorphic ape ancestor - meaning that differences in size and other characteristics indicate different sexes rather than several species, as originally thought. However, their relationship to humans and other apes are still under debate.

On the trip to Lufeng, students and teachers visited the original discovery site, where in situ dinosaur bones are embedded in the red mudstone of the Lufeng Formation. The dinosaur bones are protected temporarily by an under-cover shed, however the local council is going to build a dinosaur park (called 'Jurassic Park') on site.

The dinosaur museum at the centre of the Lufeng county town has a half-dozen complete dinosaur skeletons on display along with Lufengpithecus and other fossils found in the area, as well as archaeological relics unearthed in Lufeng.

Copyright © Australian Museum 2002