The Dragon Stone

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Location:
Stronsay, Orkney Islands

Description:
In the autumn of 1808, a carcass was washed up on the shore of Stronsay (Orkney Islands). It was partly decomposed, but whole enough for locals to get a good look at it. The body was first found by John Peace, but was not accessible. It washed up again ten days later where it could be looked at. It was George Sherar who first measured the creature and made observations about it.

It seemed to be a creature that had a small head, long neck, a long tapered tail and six limbs. At 55 feet long it was an impressive size. The remains of its skin were grey and rough to the touch. It also seemed to have a mane of hairs on its back. Media attention was soon drawn to it and there was a great deal of excitement that this was a genuine sea serpent.

The creature was initially named Halsydrus pontoppidani. Diagrams had been made of the bones, and some of the vertebrae (parts of the backbone) had been saved. This fell apart after the evidence was seen by Sir Everard Home. He had experience of basking sharks and was sure that this creature must be one. The vertebrae matched other basking shark samples. Basking sharks also have a strange way of rotting due to how they're put together. The bottom of the jaw falls off when they decompose, leaving a small head apparently on the end of a long neck. The tail fluke can drop off to leave a tapered tail. The dorsal fin breaks down into fibres, making it look like the bodies have manes. Finally male basking sharks have two small claspers partway down their body. Basking sharks have two sets of fins, so adding in the claspers makes it looks like six legs. This also fits with some of the other observations, such as the rough skin. Shark skin is known for being rough (it was used as sandpaper in the past) and is a greyish colour.

The Stronsay beast is noteworthy as an early example of working through evidence to prove or disprove a sea serpent claim. It was not the last basking shark carcass to be mistaken for a sea serpent. An interesting fact does remain. Basking sharks are about 40 feet long at their largest size. The Stronsay beast was much larger. Though it looks to have not been a serpent, it was an interesting find in its own right. There is always the possibility that it was a new species of shark, an exceptionally big basking shark or something new that is related to sharks.

The vertebrae samples are currently stored at the Royal Museum of Scotland.

Other Dragon Stone Pages:

• Charles Lyell's Travels

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