El Fosil Museum

A farmer ploughing near Villa de Leyva in 1977 struck bone, and what was uncovered was a marine reptile of the pliosaur group about seven metres long, from around 110 to 120 million years ago when this high plateau was seabed. The decision taken was to leave it where it lay rather than excavate and move it - a building was put up over the specimen and it is displayed in the rock, on its side, with the skull, jaw and much of the body articulated as it was buried. That is unusual and worth more than a mounted skeleton would be. Smaller ammonites and other fossils from the valley are shown alongside. The area is dense with Cretaceous marine fossils and several other sites and museums are within a few kilometres.

Highlights

• A pliosaur about seven metres long - left in the rock where it was found.
• Skull and body articulated - as it was buried, not remounted.
• Rock from 110 to 120 million years ago - when the plateau was seabed.
• Ammonites from the valley - shown alongside.

When to go

Year round. An hour.

What to expect

It is one specimen and a small display - the visit is short. Labelling is in Spanish. The larger Centro de Investigaciones Paleontologicas nearby is more substantial. A taxi or bicycle is needed from Villa de Leyva.

Nearby

Villa de Leyva is east; El Infiernito is between.