Discovering dinosaur bones offers a unique connection to prehistoric life, providing invaluable insights into Earth’s ancient past. These remarkable finds are exceptionally rare, representing only a tiny fraction of the creatures that once roamed Earth. Unearthing such a fossil is a profound experience, contributing directly to scientific understanding.
Prime Locations for Discovery
Dinosaur fossils are most commonly found in sedimentary rocks, deposited during the Mesozoic Era, the geological period when non-avian dinosaurs lived. Paleontologists often focus their search in areas where these ancient sedimentary layers are exposed, such as river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides. Human-made exposures like quarries and road cuttings can also reveal fossil-bearing strata.
Regions known for significant dinosaur discoveries often feature “badlands” topography, characterized by soft, easily eroded sedimentary rocks and sparse vegetation. This erosion continually exposes new fossil material. Notable locations include the Hell Creek Formation across parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, famous for species like Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. The Gobi Desert in Mongolia is another rich site, particularly for Late Cretaceous dinosaurs, with discoveries such as Velociraptor and Protoceratops. Patagonia in Argentina has also yielded immense sauropod fossils, including Patagotitan, one of the largest land animals known.
The Process of Discovery
Finding dinosaur bones requires a combination of geological knowledge, keen observation, and patience. Paleontologists begin by studying geological maps to identify areas with exposed sedimentary rocks from the Mesozoic Era, indicating a likelihood of dinosaur remains. Once a promising area is identified, the field team engages in “prospecting,” which involves systematically walking the terrain and scanning the ground for fossil fragments. These small pieces, often called “float,” erode out of the rock and can signal a larger fossil embedded nearby. Following the trail of float uphill often leads to the source, where more complete specimens might be preserved within the rock layers.
Initial discovery and surface collection involve specialized tools. Geologists’ hammers, often with a pick or chisel end, are used to carefully chip away surrounding rock. Chisels, ranging from large for bulk removal to smaller, more precise ones, aid in extracting specimens. Paintbrushes are useful for gently clearing away loose dirt and debris from delicate finds. Once a fossil is partially uncovered, it is often stabilized with glue and then encased in a plaster jacket to protect it during transport to a laboratory for further preparation.
What to Do If You Discover Bones
If you believe you have found a dinosaur bone, it is important to remember that significant discoveries are subject to legal and ethical guidelines. Do not attempt to excavate or remove the fossil from its location. Disturbing the find can damage the specimen and destroy valuable scientific context, such as its position within the rock layers or its association with other fossils.
The most responsible action is to document the find thoroughly and report it to the appropriate authorities. Take clear photographs of the fossil, including its surrounding area, and note its exact location using GPS coordinates if possible. Record any visible features and details about the geological setting. Then, contact a local museum, university paleontology department, or government agency such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or National Park Service (NPS). These institutions have the expertise and permits necessary to properly excavate, preserve, and study the specimen, ensuring its scientific integrity and public benefit.
Identifying Potential Dinosaur Fossils
Distinguishing a dinosaur bone from a common rock or other fossil requires understanding certain characteristics. Dinosaur bones, having undergone mineralization, are typically heavier than ordinary rocks of similar size. Their color can vary widely, often appearing in earth tones like browns, grays, and tans, but also vibrant yellows, oranges, reds, and even blues, depending on the minerals present in the surrounding soil during fossilization.
The texture of a fossilized bone is distinctly porous or fibrous, often showing the internal “spongy” structure of the original bone, unlike the uniform appearance of most rocks. While rocks may have irregular shapes, dinosaur bones will often retain some semblance of anatomical structure, such as a joint, shaft, or the characteristic cellular pattern visible on a broken surface. Petrified wood, a common look-alike, displays wood grain patterns rather than bone structure. Modern animal bones are generally lighter, lack the mineralized density, and do not exhibit the crystalline replacement seen in true fossils.