Recent Posts
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Toxolophosaurus
Introduction Allow me to introduce you to Toxolophosaurus, “the bow-crested lizard”, which lived in Montana during the early to middle of the Cretaceous Period approximately 135-115 million years ago. Despite its name, Toxolophosaurus wasn’t either a dinosaur or a lizard…. Read More ›
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Martello Towers within the United States of America
Martello Tower #74, located in Seaford, England. Public domain image, Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martello_Tower,_Seaford.JPG. Introduction General George S. Patton once said “Fixed fortifications are monuments to man’s stupidity”. That was certainly true in the 1940s with aerial bombardment and long-range heavy… Read More ›
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May 10 – The Rosalia: The Ancient Roman Festival of the Roses
A wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Photograph by Connor Kurtz (June 10, 2007). Public domain image, Wikimedia Commons.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_the_Unknowns_crack.jpg. In ancient Rome, a festival known as the Rosalia, “the Festival of the… Read More ›
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Calamopleurus
Calamopleurus was a 3 foot long freshwater fish which lived in Brazil and northern Africa during the early and middle Cretaceous Period approximately 130-95 million years ago. Calamopleurus belonged to a family called Amiidae. Today, the only surviving amiid is… Read More ›
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Melvius
Introduction Melvius was a prehistoric freshwater fish which lived in North America during the late Cretaceous Period 74-66 million years ago. Melvius belonged to a family called Amiidae. Today, the only surviving amiid is the Bowfin (Amia calva), which is… Read More ›
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Cifelliodon
Cifelliodon was a prehistoric mammal which lived in Utah during the early Cretaceous Period approximately 135 million years ago. The only specimen which we have of this animal is a single upper jaw measuring 2.75 inches (7 cm) long which… Read More ›
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Synechodus
Synechodus was a genus of prehistoric saltwater shark which lived from the early Permian Period until the late Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period, 290 to 37 million years ago (Ivanov 2005, pages 127-138). Fossils of this animal reached around… Read More ›
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The Curved Double-Edged Broadsword: A Failed Medieval Experiment, or Medieval Artistic Fiction?
NOTE: My gracious thanks to those who have given their input on this article and who pointed out the flaws in the first draft. The content of this article has since been modified in accordance with these critiques. Necessity is… Read More ›
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Acamptonectes
Acamptonectes densus was a 4 meter (13 foot) long ichthyosaur which swam in the seas around western Europe during the early Cretaceous Period 131-129 million years ago. The first specimen was found in the seaside village of Speeton, Yorkshire, England… Read More ›
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Goniopholis: The Typical Mesozoic Crocodile
Dinosaurs ruled the land during the Mesozoic Era, but crocodiles and their relatives unquestionably ruled the water. Prehistoric crocodiles are usually relegated to the background as supporting actors or extras in our imagined Mesozoic dramas, but the truth is that… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 
