LASO Crane Recovers Rare Jurassic Dinosaur Fossil in Portugal

30 Second Takeaway

LASO Transportes used a 60 tonne mobile crane to recover a rock block containing one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons discovered in Portugal. The fossil was excavated from the Jurassic coastal cliffs near the mouth of the Sizandro River in the municipality of Torres Vedras. Identified as a member of the Ankylosauria group, the specimen is approximately 146 million years old and could have around 85 percent of its skeleton preserved. Cliff proximity, restricted ground conditions and the fragile fossil-bearing block required LASO to inspect the location before selecting and positioning the crane. Following the lift, the block was transported to the Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras laboratory in Santa Cruz, Portugal, where researchers will prepare, preserve and study the specimen.

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60 Tonne Crane Recovers Fossil-Bearing Block

A 60 tonne capacity mobile crane supplied by LASO Transportes has lifted a major dinosaur fossil from the cliffs of Foz do Sizandro in Portugal.LASO completed the operation in collaboration with the Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras, or SHN, and the research team responsible for excavating the specimen.

The crane lifted a consolidated rock block containing a substantial section of the dinosaur’s skeleton. Keeping the remains within the surrounding rock provided protection during removal and transport.

Unlike a conventional construction load, the block contained scientifically important material that could not be repaired or replaced if damaged.

The operation therefore required controlled crane movements, carefully selected lifting points and continued coordination between the crane team and palaeontologists.

Fossil Discovered Near the Sizandro River

The discovery began in June 2025 during palaeontological prospecting and inventory work near the mouth of the Sizandro River. SHN researcher Luís Domingos identified part of a femur exposed within the coastal cliff. The initial intervention allowed the fossil element to be recovered before continuing coastal erosion destroyed it.

Preliminary analysis identified unusual characteristics, leading researchers to return for further investigation. Several fieldwork campaigns subsequently uncovered dozens of osteoderms, the bony plates that formed the dinosaur’s armour, together with spikes and numerous skeletal elements. The discoveries allowed researchers to assign the specimen to Ankylosauria, a group of quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaurs recognised for their protective body armour.

Specimen Dates From the Late Jurassic

The fossil was found within a geological formation dating to the Late Jurassic, approximately 146 million years ago. Its age and state of preservation make the discovery particularly significant for the study of armoured dinosaurs in Europe.

Initial reports described the fossil as approximately 148 million years old. However, the Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras identifies its estimated age as around 146 million years. Researchers have not yet completed the preparation and detailed analysis required to determine the specimen’s precise position within Ankylosaurian evolutionary history. The age, anatomy and preserved armour could provide new information about the development and distribution of these dinosaurs during the Late Jurassic.

Around 85 Percent of the Skeleton Could Be Preserved

Researchers estimate that approximately 85 percent of the skeleton could remain preserved.

The animal is positioned with its underside facing the ground, and much of the skeleton appears to remain associated within the rock. The preserved material extends across a substantial part of the body, with elements associated with the skull, limbs, armour and tail.

Some skeletal elements could remain concealed beneath osteoderms, spikes and the surrounding rock matrix.

The visible specimen measures approximately 2.5 metres, although its anatomy and exact dimensions will be assessed more accurately as laboratory preparation progresses.

The degree of preservation means the fossil could become one of the most important dinosaur discoveries made in Portugal in recent decades.

Consolidation Protected the Fossil Before Lifting

Before the crane could remove the specimen, the fossil and surrounding material had to be stabilised. Excavated fossil bone can be fragile after remaining within rock for millions of years. Changes in support, moisture and exposure can cause already fractured sections to move or deteriorate.

The research team consolidated and protected the block before lifting. This process allowed the surrounding rock matrix to continue supporting the embedded skeletal elements. Protective materials also helped hold the block together as it was separated from the excavation area and transferred to the crane. The objective was not simply to lift the visible bones. The complete protected section had to be treated as one irregular and potentially fragile load.

Cliffside Conditions Complicated Crane Setup

The excavation’s proximity to the coastal cliff created one of the principal challenges for LASO. A crane positioned near a cliff edge requires careful assessment of ground conditions. The surface must support the crane, outriggers and forces generated during the lift without destabilising the surrounding ground.

The team also had to consider the distance between the crane and fossil block. Increasing the operating radius reduces the capacity available from a mobile crane, even when the load is substantially below its maximum nominal rating.

Site conditions considered before the operation included:

• Distance from the cliff edge

• Ground strength and stability

• Crane access

• Available setup area

• Outrigger positioning

• Weight of the protected rock block

• Lifting radius

• Boom length

• Load clearance

• Wind and coastal weather

• Communication with the excavation team

• Protection of the surrounding fossil site

LASO completed an advance inspection to identify the crane type and configuration suited to the available conditions.

Advance Site Visit Informed Crane Selection

The previous site visit allowed LASO to evaluate the terrain before mobilising equipment.

This was particularly important because the crane had to provide sufficient reach while remaining positioned on ground considered suitable for setup.

The team could use the visit to evaluate access dimensions, potential crane positions and the lifting path between the excavation and receiving area. An advance assessment also helps identify the transport equipment, rigging and ground support materials required for the operation.

Selecting a 60 tonne mobile crane gave LASO the combination of site mobility, controlled operation and lifting capacity needed for the recovery.

The model and precise configuration of the crane have not been disclosed.

Rigging Required Even Load Support

A fossil-bearing rock block does not have the standard lifting points found on manufactured equipment.

The irregular shape and internal condition of the material require a lifting arrangement capable of supporting the block without concentrating damaging forces around the fossil.

The protective structure surrounding the specimen became part of the handling system, allowing the crane team to connect the rigging without attaching directly to exposed bone.

Before the main lift, the rigging arrangement had to be checked for balance and stability.

A controlled initial movement would allow the team to confirm that:

• The block remained structurally stable

• The lifting arrangement carried the load as intended

• The load remained suitably balanced

• Protective materials remained secure

• The crane responded normally

• The planned lifting path remained clear

Once raised, the block had to be kept stable while the crane moved it away from the cliff and towards the prepared receiving position.

Slow Movements Protected an Irreplaceable Load

The fossil’s scientific value made precise crane control more important than lifting speed.

Sudden acceleration, braking or rotation could have transferred unwanted forces through the block. Controlled hoisting and slewing helped limit movement within the surrounding rock and protective enclosure.

Communication between the crane operator, lifting personnel and excavation team was required throughout the operation.

Palaeontologists were able to monitor the specimen while the lifting team controlled the crane and rigging. The load could then be lowered onto prepared transport supports designed to maintain its condition during the next stage of the journey.

Block Transported to Santa Cruz in Portugal

Following removal, the fossil-bearing block was transported to the Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras laboratory in Santa Cruz, Portugal. Santa Cruz is a coastal community within the municipality of Torres Vedras and the location of SHN’s headquarters and laboratory facilities.

The fossil was not transported to Santa Cruz, California, as stated in some early coverage of the operation. At the Portuguese laboratory, specialists will progressively remove surrounding rock and sediment while stabilising the exposed fossil material.

Laboratory preparation can reveal bones and anatomical features that were not visible during excavation.

This work must proceed slowly to avoid damaging the fossil or losing information about the position of individual elements.

Laboratory Preparation Begins Next Research Phase

Removing the block from the cliff completed the field excavation but marked the beginning of a longer scientific process. Researchers must document, clean and preserve the specimen before a full anatomical analysis can be completed.

The preparation programme includes:

• Recording the block before preparation

• Removing protective field materials

• Stabilising exposed fossil bone

• Carefully removing surrounding rock

• Identifying individual skeletal elements

• Documenting the position of armour and spikes

• Repairing naturally fractured sections where appropriate

• Producing photographs and measurements

• Comparing the specimen with related dinosaurs

• Preparing material for scientific study and publication

Only after this work is completed will researchers be able to determine whether the fossil belongs to a known species or represents a previously unidentified member of the group.

What Were Ankylosaurians?

Ankylosaurians were quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaurs distinguished by armour formed from bony plates embedded within the skin. These plates, known as osteoderms, provided protection across parts of the head, neck, back and tail. Different members of the group developed additional defensive structures, including spikes and, in some later species, enlarged tail clubs.

The Portuguese specimen dates from an early period in the evolutionary history of the group. A substantially complete skeleton can help researchers understand how its armour was arranged, how the animal moved and how early Ankylosaurians differed from later and more widely recognised forms. Associated remains are especially valuable because they allow scientists to study the relationship between bones rather than relying on isolated fossil elements.

Coastal Erosion Reveals and Threatens Fossils

The cliffs around Torres Vedras contain extensive geological deposits from the Jurassic period. Coastal erosion can expose fossils that have remained enclosed within the rock, creating opportunities for discovery.

The same process can rapidly damage or destroy exposed material.

Waves, rain, wind and cliff instability can separate bones from their geological context or carry them away before researchers document the site. The initial discovery of the femur near Foz do Sizandro demonstrated this balance. Exposure made the fossil visible, but intervention was required to recover it before erosion progressed. Removing the main block allowed researchers to preserve the associated skeleton while retaining information that would have been lost if the fossil had broken apart naturally.

Crane Expertise Supports Scientific Preservation

The project placed LASO’s lifting and transport capabilities in an application outside conventional construction, energy and industrial work. The crane operation formed a direct part of the fossil preservation process.

Without suitable lifting equipment, the research team would have faced greater difficulty removing the protected block from the cliff without dividing it into smaller sections.

Retaining the specimen within a larger block preserves anatomical relationships and gives laboratory specialists more control over preparation. The lift demonstrates how crane planning, rigging and transport expertise can support scientific and cultural heritage projects where protection of the load is the primary objective.

About LASO Transportes

LASO Transportes is a Portuguese company specialising in conventional transport, heavy and specialised transport, mobile crane services, heavy lifting and project engineering.

The company was established in 2007 through a partnership between Transportes Lamarão and Solenha Sociedade de Transportes Rodoviários.

LASO operates a fleet of approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment and employs more than 1,300 people. Its international network includes operations in Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Morocco and Mozambique.

The company serves construction, renewable energy, industrial, automotive, railway, aerospace, marine and heavy machinery markets. Its involvement in the Foz do Sizandro recovery applied the same site assessment, crane planning and controlled transport capabilities used for industrial projects to a scientifically important fossil.

Company website: www.laso.pt

About Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras

The Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras is a nonprofit scientific organisation based in Torres Vedras, Portugal. Founded on March 18, 1998, the organisation promotes the research, preservation and public understanding of palaeontological and geological heritage. Its work focuses particularly on fossil vertebrates and geological deposits from Portugal’s Upper Jurassic formations.

SHN manages one of the country’s largest palaeontological collections, containing vertebrate and invertebrate fossils.

Its activities include field research, fossil preparation, collection management, scientific education and the protection of palaeontological sites.

Organisation website: www.shn.pt

Frequently Asked Questions

What did LASO Transportes lift?

LASO lifted a protected rock block containing a substantially complete dinosaur skeleton from the Ankylosauria group.

Where was the fossil discovered?

It was discovered in the coastal cliffs near Foz do Sizandro, close to the mouth of the Sizandro River in Torres Vedras, Portugal.

How old is the dinosaur fossil?

The Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras estimates that the specimen is approximately 146 million years old.

Why do some reports describe it as 148 million years old?

Early industry reports used an estimate of 148 million years. The scientific organisation leading the research currently identifies the specimen as approximately 146 million years old.

How complete is the skeleton?

Researchers believe approximately 85 percent of the skeleton could be preserved.

How large is the specimen?

The visible skeleton measures approximately 2.5 metres.

What type of dinosaur is it?

The specimen belongs to Ankylosauria, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs protected by bony armour.

Which crane was used?

LASO used a mobile crane with a maximum capacity of 60 tonnes. The specific model has not been disclosed.

Why was a crane required?

The fossil was retained within a protected rock block that had to be lifted away from a cliffside excavation without damaging the enclosed skeleton.

What made the lift difficult?

The main challenges included the proximity of the cliff, restricted terrain, crane setup conditions and the need to protect the fossil from movement or damage.

Where was the fossil taken after the lift?

The block was transported to the Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras laboratory in Santa Cruz, Portugal.

Was the fossil transported to the United States?

No. Santa Cruz refers to the locality in Torres Vedras, Portugal, where the Society of Natural History maintains its headquarters and laboratory.

What happens to the fossil next?

Researchers will remove the surrounding rock, stabilise the bones, document the anatomy and conduct detailed scientific analysis.