* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, May 12, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    John Legend Says He’s Shocked by Ye’s ‘Descent’ Into ‘Antisemitism’ and ‘Anti-Blackness’ – Yahoo

    John Legend Expresses Shock Over Ye’s Troubling Descent into Antisemitism and Anti-Blackness

    Free Flowin’ Fest brings entertainment to Pascagoula’s Beach Park – WLOX

    Experience the Excitement: Free Flowin’ Fest Lights Up Pascagoula’s Beach Park!

    ‘Experimental entertainment venue’ sets sights on Austin area – MySA

    ‘Experimental entertainment venue’ sets sights on Austin area – MySA

    Taylor Swift’s team calls subpoena in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni case ‘tabloid clickbait’ – Yahoo

    Taylor Swift’s Team Slams Subpoena in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Case as ‘Tabloid Clickbait

    The Weeknd made the apocalypse sexy at his 2025 tour launch in Arizona – Yahoo

    The Weeknd Turns Up the Heat at His 2025 Tour Launch in Arizona!

    Flutter Entertainment eyes U.S. prediction markets amid growing interest – Sports Business Journal

    Flutter Entertainment Sets Its Sights on U.S. Prediction Markets as Interest Soars

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

    Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

    Well completions per location more than double in Lower 48 states as technology advances – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)

    Revolutionizing Oil Production: Lower 48 States See Doubling of Well Completions Thanks to Technological Breakthroughs!

    Officials announce massive project that could reshape electric vehicle technology: ‘This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy’ – Yahoo Finance

    Game-Changer Ahead: Major Investment Set to Transform Electric Vehicle Technology and Boost the Economy!

    Federal agents raid Dymeng Technology Solutions in St. Augustine – Action News Jax

    Federal Agents Storm Dymeng Technology Solutions in St. Augustine: What You Need to Know

    SoundHound’s Amelia 7.0 Platform Delivers Agentic AI With Category Leading Voice Technology – Business Wire

    Unleashing the Future: SoundHound’s Amelia 7.0 Revolutionizes Voice Technology with Agentic AI

    Comings and goings: MPT hires VP of technology, NPR announces changes to Business Desk – Current – For people in public media

    Exciting Leadership Changes: MPT Welcomes New VP of Technology and NPR Revamps Business Desk!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    John Legend Says He’s Shocked by Ye’s ‘Descent’ Into ‘Antisemitism’ and ‘Anti-Blackness’ – Yahoo

    John Legend Expresses Shock Over Ye’s Troubling Descent into Antisemitism and Anti-Blackness

    Free Flowin’ Fest brings entertainment to Pascagoula’s Beach Park – WLOX

    Experience the Excitement: Free Flowin’ Fest Lights Up Pascagoula’s Beach Park!

    ‘Experimental entertainment venue’ sets sights on Austin area – MySA

    ‘Experimental entertainment venue’ sets sights on Austin area – MySA

    Taylor Swift’s team calls subpoena in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni case ‘tabloid clickbait’ – Yahoo

    Taylor Swift’s Team Slams Subpoena in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Case as ‘Tabloid Clickbait

    The Weeknd made the apocalypse sexy at his 2025 tour launch in Arizona – Yahoo

    The Weeknd Turns Up the Heat at His 2025 Tour Launch in Arizona!

    Flutter Entertainment eyes U.S. prediction markets amid growing interest – Sports Business Journal

    Flutter Entertainment Sets Its Sights on U.S. Prediction Markets as Interest Soars

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

    Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

    Well completions per location more than double in Lower 48 states as technology advances – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)

    Revolutionizing Oil Production: Lower 48 States See Doubling of Well Completions Thanks to Technological Breakthroughs!

    Officials announce massive project that could reshape electric vehicle technology: ‘This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy’ – Yahoo Finance

    Game-Changer Ahead: Major Investment Set to Transform Electric Vehicle Technology and Boost the Economy!

    Federal agents raid Dymeng Technology Solutions in St. Augustine – Action News Jax

    Federal Agents Storm Dymeng Technology Solutions in St. Augustine: What You Need to Know

    SoundHound’s Amelia 7.0 Platform Delivers Agentic AI With Category Leading Voice Technology – Business Wire

    Unleashing the Future: SoundHound’s Amelia 7.0 Revolutionizes Voice Technology with Agentic AI

    Comings and goings: MPT hires VP of technology, NPR announces changes to Business Desk – Current – For people in public media

    Exciting Leadership Changes: MPT Welcomes New VP of Technology and NPR Revamps Business Desk!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Paleontologists Debunk Popular Claim that Protoceratops Fossils Inspired Legend of Griffin

June 21, 2024
in Science
Paleontologists Debunk Popular Claim that Protoceratops Fossils Inspired Legend of Griffin
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Among the most widely promoted examples of fossil folklore is a supposed link between the Central Asian horned dinosaur Protoceratops and the griffin, a gold-guarding mythical creature combining features of lions and birds. First proposed in the 1990s, this geomyth postulates that tales of Protoceratops fossils were transmitted westward along trade routes from Asian gold mines to inform griffin lore among the ancient Greeks. An evaluation of the Protoceratops-griffin link, however, finds it uncompelling.

The Protoceratops-griffin geomyth. The idea that fossils of Mongolian horned dinosaurs inspired or influenced the mythology of the griffin, ancient chimaeras of birds and lions according to conventional archaeologists, is one of the most popular and promoted examples of fossil folklore in modern times. This idea, first proposed in the early 1990s, has received little in the way of academic scrutiny, however. Image credit: Witton et al., doi: 10.1177/03080188241255543.

The Protoceratops-griffin geomyth. The idea that fossils of Mongolian horned dinosaurs inspired or influenced the mythology of the griffin, ancient chimaeras of birds and lions according to conventional archaeologists, is one of the most popular and promoted examples of fossil folklore in modern times. This idea, first proposed in the early 1990s, has received little in the way of academic scrutiny, however. Image credit: Witton et al., doi: 10.1177/03080188241255543.

The specific link between dinosaur fossils and griffin mythology was proposed over 30 years ago in a series of papers and books written by folklorist Adrienne Mayor.

These started with the 1989 Cryptozoology paper entitled ‘Paleocryptozoology: a call for collaboration between classicists and cryptozoologists’, and was cemented in the seminal 2000 book ‘The First Fossil Hunters.’

It suggests that an early horned dinosaur of Mongolia and China, Protoceratops, was discovered by ancient nomads prospecting for gold in Central Asia.

Tales of Protoceratops bones then traveled southwest on trade routes to inspire, or at least influence, stories and art of the griffin.

Griffins are some of the oldest mythological creatures, first appearing in Egyptian and Middle Eastern art during the 4th millennium BCE, before becoming popular in ancient Greece during the 8th century BCE.

Protoceratops was a 2-m-long dinosaur that lived in Mongolia and northern China during the Cretaceous period, between 75 and 71 million years ago.

Like griffins, Protoceratops stood on four legs, had beaks, and had frill-like extensions of their skulls that, it’s been argued, could be interpreted as wings.

In the first detailed assessment of the claims, University of Portsmouth Mark Witton and his colleagues re-evaluated historical fossil records, the distribution and nature of Protoceratops fossils, and classical sources linking the griffin with Protoceratops, consulting with historians and archeologists to fully understand the conventional, non-fossil based view of griffin origins. Ultimately, they found that none of the arguments withstood scrutiny.

Ideas that Protoceratops would be discovered by nomads prospecting for gold, for instance, are unlikely when Protoceratops fossils occur hundreds of km away from ancient gold sites.

In the century since Protoceratops was discovered, no gold has been reported alongside them.

It also seems doubtful that nomads would have seen much of Protoceratops skeletons, even if they prospected for gold where their fossils occur.

“There is an assumption that dinosaur skeletons are discovered half-exposed, lying around almost like the remains of recently-deceased animals,” Dr. Witton said.

“But generally speaking, just a fraction of an eroding dinosaur skeleton will be visible to the naked eye, unnoticed to all except for sharp-eyed fossil hunters.”

“That’s almost certainly how ancient peoples wandering around Mongolia encountered Protoceratops.”

“If they wanted to see more, as they’d need to if they were forming myths about these animals, they’d have to extract the fossil from the surrounding rock.”

“That is no small task, even with modern tools, glues, protective wrapping and preparatory techniques.”

“It seems more probable that Protoceratops remains, by and large, went unnoticed — if the gold prospectors were even there to see them.”

Similarly, the geographic spread of griffin art through history does not align with the scenario of griffin lore beginning with Central Asian fossils and then spreading west. There are also no unambiguous references to Protoceratops fossils in ancient literature.

Protoceratops is only griffin-like in being a four-limbed animal with a beak. There are no details in griffin art suggesting that their fossils were referenced but, conversely, many griffins were clearly composed from features of living cats and birds.

“Everything about griffin origins is consistent with their traditional interpretation as imaginary beasts, just as their appearance is entirely explained by them being chimeras of big cats and raptorial birds,” Dr. Witton said.

“Invoking a role for dinosaurs in griffin lore, especially species from distant lands like Protoceratops, not only introduces unnecessary complexity and inconsistencies to their origins, but also relies on interpretations and proposals that don’t withstand scrutiny.”

“It is important to distinguish between fossil folklore with a factual basis — that is, connections between fossils and myth evidenced by archaeological discoveries or compelling references in literature and artwork — and speculated connections based on intuition,” said Dr. Richard Hing, also from the University of Portsmouth.

“There is nothing inherently wrong with the idea that ancient peoples found dinosaur bones and incorporated them into their mythology, but we need to root such proposals in realities of history, geography and paleontology. Otherwise, they are just speculation.”

The team’s paper was published this week in the journal Interdisciplinary Science Reviews.

_____

Mark P. Witton et al. Did the horned dinosaur Protoceratops inspire the griffin? Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, published online June 20, 2024; doi: 10.1177/03080188241255543

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Breaking Science News – https://www.sci.news/paleontology/protoceratops-griffin-link-13039.html

Tags: DebunkPaleontologistsscience
Previous Post

Triassic Crocodile-Like Reptile Discovered in Brazil

Next Post

Jake Paul explains why he decided to fight Mike Perry

Chehalis Basin Long-Term Strategy – Department of Ecology – State of Washington (.gov)

Transforming the Chehalis Basin: A Vision for Sustainable Solutions

May 12, 2025
Eight students receive scholarships for excellence in sports science endowed in memory of Markvan Bellamy Brooks – Clemson News

Eight students receive scholarships for excellence in sports science endowed in memory of Markvan Bellamy Brooks – Clemson News

May 12, 2025
Simple life hack could see you live for three more years and it will cost you nothing – LADbible

Unlock the Secret to Living Three Extra Years for Free!

May 12, 2025
Canada claims inaugural World Relays mixed 4x100m crown in Guangzhou – worldathletics.org

Canada claims inaugural World Relays mixed 4x100m crown in Guangzhou – worldathletics.org

May 12, 2025
China, U.S. move to establish trade and economic consultation mechanism welcomed by analysts – Ecns.cn

Analysts Applaud New Trade and Economic Consultation Mechanism Between China and the U.S

May 12, 2025
New $38M retail-entertainment complex eyed for Henderson neighborhood – KSNV

Exciting $38M Retail-Entertainment Complex Set to Transform Henderson Neighborhood!

May 12, 2025
Abingdon man’s home garden an asset to health & community – WJHL

Transforming Health and Community: The Inspiring Home Garden of an Abingdon Resident

May 12, 2025
Trump announces he’ll sign executive order that aims to cut drug prices – CNN

Trump announces he’ll sign executive order that aims to cut drug prices – CNN

May 12, 2025
Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

Top Chief Technology Officers to Watch in 2025: SMX’s Anthony Vultaggio – WashingtonExec

May 12, 2025
Pacers win to edge closer to Conference final – Yahoo Sports

Pacers Surge Forward: A Step Closer to the Conference Finals!

May 12, 2025

Categories

Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (602)
  • Economy (614)
  • Entertainment (21,526)
  • General (15,213)
  • Health (9,656)
  • Lifestyle (619)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (616)
  • Politics (621)
  • Science (15,836)
  • Sports (21,123)
  • Technology (15,604)
  • World (604)

Recent News

Chehalis Basin Long-Term Strategy – Department of Ecology – State of Washington (.gov)

Transforming the Chehalis Basin: A Vision for Sustainable Solutions

May 12, 2025
Eight students receive scholarships for excellence in sports science endowed in memory of Markvan Bellamy Brooks – Clemson News

Eight students receive scholarships for excellence in sports science endowed in memory of Markvan Bellamy Brooks – Clemson News

May 12, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version