Prehistoric animals, particularly the dinosaurs, still fascinate us today. They were the most dominant species on earth for millions of years, from about 240+ million years ago until almost all of them went extinct in a single catastrophic event - a 10-15 km (6-10 mile) wide asteroid strike 66 million years ago.  Volcanic eruptions were also to blame.

Evidence for this extinction event lies in the Chicxulub impact crater which centered the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Massive tidal waves, fires and severe climate changes killed most. Dust clouds in the atmosphere adversely affected plant growth which starved out the plant eaters and in turn, the carnivores. Only the birds survived, plus some smaller creatures like the mammals. The survivors rapidly evolved to fill the niches once dominated by the dinosaurs.

Here are some wonderful designers, who use very different techniques to capture our fascination with creatures from long ago.

Shown above is the dinosaur extinction hand painted laser cut wood earrings by MoonChildTrinketsCo which captures the incoming asteroid. 

One thing is certain - no humans were around during the time of the dinosaurs. Modern humans first evolved out of Africa about 315,000 years ago which is relatively recent time ago. Slowly humans migrated all over the world. 

This beautiful Lascaux horse ceramic pendant below was created by GaiasSacredCreations. It was inspired by the famous cave paintings of several large animals in the Lascaux Caves in France created about 17,000-22,000 years ago. Among the creatures painted were the now extinct aurochs, an ancestor of modern cattle.


Ancient creatures, like now, inhabited different environments. Mosasaurs were large marine reptiles which breathed air and were powerful swimmers in warm, shallow inland seas. The happy mosasaur clear acrylic laser cut earrings here are by LilDragonDesigns. 


The plant eating brachiosaurus and other sauropods are one of the most popular dinosaur species. Their size and elongated necks gives us the impression of slow moving gentle giants.  This pair of blue brachiosaurus acrylic and resin finished stud earrings is adorable! The designer is suncharmsstudio. 


The coelacanth is called a "living fossil" because it is the sole survivor of an ancient type of fish. Thought to be completely extinct until a live specimen was caught in 1938 off the coast of South Africa. Other coelacanths have been found since then.  Shown below is a cast coelacanth sterling silver fish pendant by martymagic. 


Often called the saber-tooth tiger, the extinct smilodon with its huge canine teeth, is not closely related to tigers or modern cats. It could have lived until just over 8,000 years ago. This branch of felids had a common ancestor to today's cats which lived about 20 million years ago. 

Those teeth certainly dominate in this smidodon skull necklace by BeeBumbleJustForYou!


The Tyrannosaurus rex is arguably one of the most frightening of the dinosaurs. But I just adore this cute 3D printed chopper T. rex earrings by ShutYourTraps.


Hollywood misrepresented the velociraptor. It was really only turkey size.  They were probably more scavengers than predators.



Watch London's Natural History Museum's Prehistoric Animals Come Alive with CGI

Sir David Attenborough narrates this incredible 2014 documentary on the Natural History Museum's prehistoric animals. A night in the museum like you've never seen before! 

It uses "CGI imagery to bring to life several of the extinct animal skeletons in the museum, including Archaeopteryx, the giant moa and Haast's eagle, Gigantopithecus (contrasting prevailing expert opinion; presented as bipedal and more hominin than pongine), Glossotherium, Smilodon, Ichthyosaurus and the London-based replica of the famous Diplodocus skeleton Dippy."

Gigantopithecus was a huge, now extinct ape which once lived in central and southern China until about 200,000-300,000 years ago. Persistent sightings of the Yeti in the Himalayas have led to suggestions that the Yeti might be remnants of this ape species but it was known to be quadrupedal and did not walk upright unlike reported sightings of the Yeti. 

One common misconception about dinosaurs is why there aren't that many fossils when there were so many of them during their time on Earth. That is because it takes only a certain set of circumstances to fossilize them. The animals would have to be quickly buried under sediment and preserved soon after death. Also, we do lose fossils because the exposed ones erode away before they are found.

Sir David Attenborough wonderfully explains how paleontologists slowly and painstakingly pieced together what these animals were like, how they might have moved and behaved. 

Highly recommended.



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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM