Under the sands was a fossil and there are several stories about its discovery.
In order to choose the correct word, you need to understand what the word is referring to. In particular, you need to determine if this word is singular or plural.
What was under the sands? The fossil
- We are referring to the fossil. Fossil is singular, which is why we choose was rather than were.
What are there? Several stories
- We are referring to the stories. Stories are plural, which is why we choose are rather than is.
