Mary Anning, "The Greatest Fossilist in the World"
England's Mary Anning, born in 1799, was a pioneer in the field of paleontology. Her family's property was near Lyme Regis, an area known for its wealth of Jurassic-era fossils.
Anning risked her life to recover fossils, as the area was suceptible to landslides, particularly in the winter months. The landslides would expose new fossils, but they posed a great danger to those who traversed the land. She lost her dog Trey in such a disaster.
Anning is credited with some important finds, including the first skeleton of a plesiosaur, among other firsts. Check out this SciShow video to understand how Mary Anning shaped the scientific study of fossils. -Via Laughing Squid.
