Zimbabwe's Dinosaur Discovery Challenges Africa's Long-Overlooked Prehistoric Past

KARIBA— The discovery of a new dinosaur species on the shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba is challenging the long-standing perception that the world’s most important dinosaur discoveries are concentrated in Europe and North America, as scientists turn renewed attention to southern Africa’s largely unexplored fossil record.

Scientists have identified Musango matusadonaensis, a dinosaur that lived approximately 210 million years ago, following eight years of excavation, preparation and analysis of fossil material recovered from the Lake Kariba area.

The discovery, reported by CNN Africa and published in July, provides new evidence about the early evolution of dinosaurs while highlighting the enormous paleontological potential that remains largely unexplored across Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.

The finding also raises a broader question: why has it taken so long for Zimbabwe and much of Africa to receive greater attention in dinosaur research?

Researchers Paul Barrett and Jonah Choiniere believe several factors may have contributed to the continent being historically understudied compared with Europe and North America.

The remoteness of many fossil-rich areas is one major challenge. Difficult terrain and limited access can make fieldwork expensive and complicated, while also reducing the likelihood that fossils will be accidentally discovered by local communities or landowners.

Historical events have also affected scientific research in Zimbabwe.

Barrett has suggested that the country's war of liberation, which began in 1964 and ended in 1979, had a long-term impact on paleontology. The conflict contributed to the movement of scientists and researchers to neighbouring South Africa, resulting in a loss of expertise that has taken decades to rebuild.

Yet scientists say Southern Africa has played a crucial role in understanding the origins and evolution of dinosaurs.

“Southern Africa, just in general, has been disproportionately important for understanding the origins of major groups (of dinosaurs), and that extends across a huge time swath,” said Choiniere.

He added that large parts of the continent remain scientifically unexplored.

“There’s still a lot of stuff out there waiting to be discovered, which makes it a super exciting place for me and I think for all of our collaborators to work. But I always wish, of course, that we had more people doing it.”

Zimbabwe’s prehistoric record begins to emerge

The discovery of Musango matusadonaensis follows another landmark dinosaur discovery in Zimbabwe.

In 2022, researchers announced the discovery of Mbiresaurus raathi, whose remains were excavated in the Kadzi River Basin in Mbire District, Mashonaland Central.

Mbiresaurus lived more than 230 million years ago, during the Late Triassic Period, making it one of the earliest dinosaurs known from Africa.

The small, two-legged dinosaur is estimated to have measured about 1.8 metres long, including its long tail, and weighed between approximately 9 and 30 kilograms. Its discovery was particularly significant because it provided evidence that some of the earliest dinosaurs lived in what is now Zimbabwe.

Africa's dinosaur story, however, extends far beyond Zimbabwe.The continent has produced some extraordinary dinosaur fossils, including the remains of Spinosaurus in Morocco and Egypt. Spinosaurus is famous for its enormous sail-like structure along its back and is considered one of the largest known predatory dinosaurs, with evidence suggesting that it was adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Filling the gaps on Africa's dinosaur map

The expedition team  behind the Lake Kariba projects plans to  return to the area  early next year , Barrett and Choiniere are optimistic their bid to “fill in the paleontological map” of Southern Africa can help kickstart a flurry of fossil research within Zimbabwe.

Previous expeditions have brought together scientists, researchers and graduate students from Zimbabwe and abroad, including researchers associated with the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, where Musango and other dinosaur specimens discovered in the country are expected to be preserved for future research and display.

Choiniere believes the renewed interest could mark a new chapter for Zimbabwean paleontology.

“I don’t want to call it like the dinosaur renaissance of Zimbabwe, but there’s a really a huge, renewed interest in doing work there,” Choiniere said.

Source:CNN and additional reporting by AfricaRising54