The giant Temnodontosaurus at Kloster Banz

The centrepiece of the Petrefaktensammlung Museum Kloster Banz in a former monastery in Bad Staffelstein, Bavaria, Germany, is the 2.3 m long skull of the ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus trigonodon. This specimen is one of the earliest fossils of its kind ever discovered. However, it comprises more than just the skull. Parts of the postcranium, including limb bones, have also been found, and it was indeed these remains that caught the attention of a stone-breaker.

This occurred in 1842 near Unnersdorf, just a few kilometres from where the specimen is now on display. H. Murk, the priest at Banz and a fossil collector, organised and carried out a large-scale excavation. After reaching the fossil-bearing horizon at a height of 12 metres, additional parts of the skeleton were found. The material was transported to the monastery, where it was prepared. The scientific work was carried out by the Munich-based palaeontologist Carl von Theodori, who published a monograph entitled: “Beschreibung des kolossalen Ichthyosaurus trigonodon in der Lokal-Petrefaktenfakten-Sammlung-zu-Banz” [Description of the colossal Ichthyosaurus trigonodon in the local fossil collection in Banz]. This monograph, published in 1854, contains a rare piece of art: lithographs of the skull in dorsal and ventral view in original size.

Banz Temnodontosaurus trigonodon skull in ventral view (from Theodori, 1854)

In particular the ventral view image is important as the skull is mounted on the wall and this side cannot be studied anymore. I had the opportunity to visited Banz twice so far (my last visit was in 2022). It’s a great place up on a hill, with a scenic view. Next to the Temnodontosaurus, they show pterosaur, thalattosuchian, and plesiosaur specimens found near Banz.