While Dr Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones is a fictitious character in the Hollywood movies, this Kuantan-born associate researcher is a real figure who gets his hands dirty, under the scorching sun, looking for these forgotten creatures.

Rummy, 39, works at Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing’s University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, essentially for the study of ancient vertebrate animals and ancient humans.

The Chinese-speaking scholar is also a graduate of the prestigious Tsinghua University, China’s top university.

“My job involves collecting materials from excavations and piecing them together to determine what animals they belonged to. I analyse the morphological features of these remains to identify whether the extinct animal is related to a known species or represents something entirely new to science,” he told Bernama.

“This process requires a deep understanding of the subject and a great deal of time and patience; sometimes, the answer appears suddenly, like a ‘eureka!’ moment.”

Rummy is currently working on several subjects, particularly focusing on ancient crocodilians. “Crocodiles have existed for millions of years, long before the present day, and studying their history provides fascinating insights into their evolution.

“I am also involved in research on trace fossils and dinosaur faunas, and even touch on the topic of palaeontology ethics. There is a lot of hard and detailed work. It’s certainly not as glamorous as in the movies – I have worked both on body fossils and trace fossils such as fossilised poop,” he shared.

“Footprints and other evidence of ancient life preserved beneath our feet: these traces, locked in time, hold incredible information, but uncovering their secrets requires expertise and persistence,” Rummy added.

Beyond research-based work, he has to work with stakeholders on a variety of projects, ranging from excavation and exhibition to museum-related tasks. His responsibilities involve a balance of fieldwork and office research, with no fixed schedule.

“It’s not a typical 8am to 5pm job. Instead, you work around the clock, often seven days a week, driven by tasks, scientific questions and the pursuit of answers.”

Journeying to the past

Explaining how he ventured down the route of paleontology, Rummy revealed that he never knew what the subject was “until it found me”.

“Throughout my childhood, ancient giant creatures seemed like they only existed in malls, theme parks, or movies. It wasn’t until I enrolled in a PhD programme that I realised the paleo world was far more fascinating and profound than I had ever imagined,” he said.

“It’s about deep time, stretching back over 100 million years, encompassing all the animals and plants that once thrived on Earth.”

Rummy said he applied for a master’s degree programme at Tsinghua University in 2014 as it offered courses in English along with a full scholarship.

“My time at Tsinghua was incredible – the environment was excellent, and everything I needed to succeed in my studies was readily available.

“The motivation and support I experienced there inspired me to pursue a PhD at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Both are ranked among the top in the world, and I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to study at these prestigious institutions.”

On his memorable experiences, Rummy shared about his adventure in Harbin on an autumn evening.

“We had spent the whole day searching with no success, and just as we were about to call it a day, we discovered a 90-million-year-old complete skeleton. It was indeed an unforgettable moment,” he said.

Recently, his colleagues found a two-million-year-old Sabretooth cat poo in Longgupo, Wushan. “These are known as coprolites, and the study of fossilised excreta is often overlooked in palaeontology.

“Coprolites act as time capsules, offering insights that bones alone cannot provide. They can reveal dietary information about the organism, as well as important clues for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental studies,” he explained.

“Additionally, they preserve data on taphonomy (the branch of palaeontology that deals with the processes of fossilisation) and more.”

He also recalled finding dinosaur remains in an area located within Yanji town in Jilin Province, northeast China. “The local government took this discovery seriously and invested considerable effort in preserving the site, which was originally a housing construction project.”

Rummy, who learnt Mandarin when he was in school in Malaysia, has a five-year-old daughter, who shares the same curiosity as her father and “keeps snakes as pets”.

“Beijing has truly become our home, and the Malaysian expat community here has become like family to us. During festive seasons, we often come together to enjoy nasi lemak, making it a special tradition to stay connected with our roots,” he concluded.