Specimens of Archaeopteryx precipitated the first surge of widespread knowledge of the specimen across Europe. In the subsequent years of the 19th century, the London specimen was subject to a number of analyses by other researchers of historical importance, including Thomas Huxley, Othniel Charles Marsh, Wilhelm Dames, and Bronislav Petronievics. Much of this early study was relevant to controversy surrounding the possible taxonomic divisions of "Archaeopteryx" specimens. The London specimen is of obvious special importance because it was the first "Archaeopteryx" skeleton discovered. By coining the name "Archaeopteryx", meaning "ancient wing", von Meyer had declared the animal to be a bird. Despite the
Archaeopteryx common uses of that term. A more thorough analysis was published soon after to test this hypothesis, and failed to arrive at the same result; it found "Archaeopteryx" in its traditional position at the base of Avialae, while "Xiaotingia" was recovered as a basal dromaeosaurid or troodontid. The authors of the follow-up study noted that uncertainties still exist, and that it may not be possible to state confidently whether or not "Archaeopteryx" is a member of Avialae or not, barring new and better specimens of relevant species. Phylogenetic studies conducted by Senter, "et al." (2012) and Turner, Makovicky, and Norell