June 27, 2024

The skeleton of a 13-meter-long long-neck dinosaur, Camarasaurus grandis, has arrived at the Museum of Evolution in Knuthenborg. Composed of 97% genuine bones, this specimen is among the most intact long-neck skeletons ever discovered. Following its recent addition of the horned giant Lokiceratops, this latest acquisition solidifies the museum’s status as one of the world’s most impressive and spectacular dinosaur museums.

With the arrival of the fascinating long-neck dinosaur, named "Elin," which ranks among the top-three most intact long-neck skeletons worldwide, the Museum of Evolution ascends to the global stage. The museum already boasts an extraordinary collection of authentic fossils, including the world’s most well-preserved Allosaurus, the only Lokiceratops, the largest horned dinosaur, the largest skull of any land-dwelling animal (Torosaurus), and the eighth specimen of the first bird, Archaeopteryx.

Unique in Europe

It is exceptionally rare for such a well-preserved dinosaur to arrive in Europe. Christoffer Knuth, director of Knuthenborg and the Museum of Evolution, expresses his pride in adding yet another world-class skeleton to the museum, allowing visitors to get up close to one of prehistory’s most iconic creatures:

“We are incredibly proud to present something as extraordinary and unique as one of the world’s most complete long-neck dinosaurs. When we expand our collection, it has to be one of the best of its kind globally, and we have succeeded in this several times now. Our goal of being one of the world’s leading dinosaur museums has already been achieved, but we’re not stopping here.”

From the Jurassic to Lolland

The long-neck dinosaur, Camarasaurus grandis, was the most widespread species of its kind during the Jurassic period. It lived between 155 and 145 million years ago and weighed up to 10 tons. Upon its death, it likely sank to the bottom of a calm river, which preserved it in the exact position it died in—curled up—until it was discovered millions of years later on a cattle ranch in Wyoming in 2017.

After excavation, the skeleton was meticulously restored, a process that alone took over 12,000 hours. Composed of 97% genuine bones, the massive skeleton has now traveled from the USA to Denmark, where it is permanently installed at the Museum of Evolution in Knuthenborg.