August 18, 2003
Losing the horn

There's a programme on TV right now which is a mixture of archaeology and paeleontology, i.e. my ideal evening's entertainment. Unfortunately, it seems to cater for the rather more ignorant viewer (and I'm not expert, but enjoy learning about geology and was mad keen on dinosaurs as a nipper), but it's still inspiring and thrilling. I'm SO going to go fossil-hunting as soon as I have someone to go with (hint hint sgs ;)).

So onto the point of this entry. What's the dilly with the iguanodon's spike(s)? I'm sure received wisdom has changed since I was a kid. Dinosaur experts to blog! Comments below please!

Posted by biondino at August 18, 2003 08:27 PM
Comments

I know not of spikes. But talking of ignorant viewers, who the hell was that programme about water aimed at last week? It made nonsense of evolution, physics, biology and television.

Posted by: Archel on August 19, 2003 09:54 AM

when i was little i wanted to become a geologist. now all i have is a small rock collection.

Posted by: ulla on August 20, 2003 12:25 PM

when they moved the Crystal Palace and rebuilt it south of the river in a new landscaped park with models of dinosaurs in it, a group of eminent Victorians had a dinner *inside* the belly of the Iguanadon. I'll try to find a link with more info

Posted by: markh on August 22, 2003 10:38 AM

People used to think that the iguanodon walked on four feet and that the spikes on its thumbs were actually spikes on its head. So the Crystal Palace Iguanodon was built just like that. Apparently those model dinosaurs still exist, although as I am not a londoner i don't actually know this and might have made it up.

When I am working for Horizon they will make challenging documentaries again, that aren't preoccupied with the end of the world. The trouble with making science accessible is that you can only go so far by saying "an atom is a bit like a tennis ball" before things become plain lies.

Posted by: robin on August 26, 2003 04:57 PM

hahahaha! science *is* all lies and the iguanodon is proof! robin and i are in such agreeance it's scary. but then, we are roby/ins.
still laughing at tennis ball line,
rob 'science is my bread and butter but not my god' yn

Posted by: rrrobyn on August 28, 2003 11:48 PM

Science is my chocolate cake with extraa sprinkles.

(Damn, so meaningless and yet so true)

Posted by: Caitlin on August 31, 2003 11:39 AM

Are you ever going to post again?

Posted by: GayJay on September 14, 2003 11:00 PM