amongst learned classes like philosophers and scientists of the day, but they knew enough to keep quiet because of religion.

...although it seems was only in the early 1800’s that the fossilized bones became generally recognized by thoughtful people as being from no longer extant creatures.

Certainly people over the millennia must have seen these things—long before (and long after) the development and evolution of creation myths.

As best I can determine from a brief websearch is that the earliest surviving description is from a guy named Robert Plot in 1677.
The First Dinosaur Fossil Was Named Before We Had A Word For Dinosaurs

Reportedly, he thought it to be from a giant human. Which makes sense, as it was well established that “There were giants in the earth in those days…” [Gen.6:4]

and people

edit: ohhh, those are supposed to be camels