



And even if you don't, you'll gaze on fossilized dinosaurs, rhinos and other reptiles in their natural context—instead of in a museum set piece
By Charlotte Huff | November 24, 2008 | 2
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park: near Royal, Neb.
http://ashfall.unl.edu/ ; (402) 893-2000
Roughly 260 skeletons, representing 17 species, have been identified at this northeastern Nebraska site, first discovered in the early 1970s....[More]
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park: near Royal, Neb.
http://ashfall.unl.edu/; (402) 893-2000
Roughly 260 skeletons, representing 17 species, have been identified at this northeastern Nebraska site, first discovered in the early 1970s. More than 100 of the skeletons identified are from the barrel-bodied rhino (Teleoceras major). The animals are believed to have perished after a volcano in what is now Idaho deposited ash around 12 million years ago. This photo shows some 15 skeletons. In the foreground there are two barrel-bodied rhinos (labeled 1 and 16) and lying nearby, a three-toed horse (2). The rhino barn enclosing the site is being significantly expanded and is slated to reopen in May 2009. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park: near Austin, Nev.
http://parks.nv.gov/bi.htm ; (775) 964-2440
This remote site, 160 miles (255 kilometers) southeast of Reno, is believed to have been part of a coastline during the late Triassic period....[More]
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park: near Austin, Nev.
http://parks.nv.gov/bi.htm; (775) 964-2440
This remote site, 160 miles (255 kilometers) southeast of Reno, is believed to have been part of a coastline during the late Triassic period. Fossils from 37 prehistoric reptiles, called ichthyosaurs, have been identified since excavation began in the 1950s. The reptiles, fishlike in appearance, have been found on nearly every continent. The largest ichthyosaurexcavated at the Berlin site was more than 50 feet (15 meters) long. An A-frame shelter protects portions of nine skeletons; it is closed during the winter months. This photograph shows the vertebrae and part of a rib cage of a single ichthyosaur, marked with the letters Q and R, respectively. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry: near Price, Utah
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/quarry.html ; (435) 636-3600
Portions of 79 dinosaurs have been identified at this ancient bone bed, located 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Salt Lake City....[More]
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry: near Price, Utah
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/quarry.html; (435) 636-3600
Portions of 79 dinosaurs have been identified at this ancient bone bed, located 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Salt Lake City. Paleontologists are still trying to unravel why these Jurassic-era fossils are located in such close proximity. The bones are generally in excellent condition, but have been scattered. Two thirds are from Allosaurus, a meat-eating dinosaur. From two platforms in one building visitors can see some bones in situ. This photo shows at least a dozen dinosaur bones, including a pelvic bone from a camarasaur [top left corner] and rib bones scattered in the middle from an allosaur, looking much like pickup sticks. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Dinosaur National Monument: near Jensen, Utah
http://www.nps.gov/dino /; (435) 781-7700
Photo: Attached at SciAmPhotosDinosaurNational
Photo Credit: National Park Service
The most dramatic presentation of fossils at Dinosaur National Monument was closed to public view in mid 2006, after shifting earth damaged the visitor center....[More]
Dinosaur National Monument: near Jensen, Utah
http://www.nps.gov/dino/; (435) 781-7700
Photo: Attached at SciAmPhotosDinosaurNational
Photo Credit: National Park Service
The most dramatic presentation of fossils at Dinosaur National Monument was closed to public view in mid 2006, after shifting earth damaged the visitor center. The structure, which encloses a cliff face containing some 1,500 dinosaur bones, is tentatively slated to reopen in 2012. In the meantime, visitors can take a one-and-a-half-mile (2.4-kilometer) hike to see several dinosaur bones, believed to be of a sauropod, a large plant-eating dinosaur. This photo taken near the trail shows a sauropod humerus (upper arm bone), shaped much like a large dog bone. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Dinosaur State Park: Rocky Hill, Conn.
http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org/ ; (860) 529-8423
This lattice work of dinosaur tracks was discovered in the mid 1960s by serendipity....[More]
Dinosaur State Park: Rocky Hill, Conn.
http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org/; (860) 529-8423
This lattice work of dinosaur tracks was discovered in the mid 1960s by serendipity. A worker operating a bulldozer, digging the basement for a new state building, flipped over a slab of gray sandstone and saw unusual-looking three-toed tracks beneath. About 600 tracks are enclosed under the exhibit center dome. The rest of the 2,000-some tracks have been reburied to preserve them. The tracks most closely match, of the known dinosaurs, Dilophosaurus, a carnivorous dinosaur from the early Jurassic period. This photo shows some of the numerous trackways easily visible in the sandstone. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: Florissant, Colo.:
www.nps.gov/flfo ; (719) 748-3253
Nearly 35 million years ago, this region 35 miles (55 kilometers) west of Colorado Springs, was buried in 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to six meters) of volcanic mud, petrifying the redwood trees growing there....[More]
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: Florissant, Colo.:
www.nps.gov/flfo; (719) 748-3253
Nearly 35 million years ago, this region 35 miles (55 kilometers) west of Colorado Springs, was buried in 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to six meters) of volcanic mud, petrifying the redwood trees growing there. By taking a one-mile (1.6-kilometer) walking tour, visitors can view the remaining stumps from the late Eocene epoch, many of which are 12 to 14 feet (3.6 to 4.3 meters) wide. In this photo, a petrified stump is partially enclosed to protect it from the elements. [Less] [Link to this slide]
The Mammoth Site: Hot Springs, S.D.
http://www.mammothsite.com/ ; (605) 745-6017
Since 1974 nearly 60 mammoths--most of them Columbian mammoths--have been identified in this site, along with 47 other species of animals....[More]
The Mammoth Site: Hot Springs, S.D.
http://www.mammothsite.com/; (605) 745-6017
Since 1974 nearly 60 mammoths--most of them Columbian mammoths--have been identified in this site, along with 47 other species of animals. The fossils can be viewed year-round from walkways in an enclosed building. This view of the 26,000-year-old sinkhole, which is believed to have somehow trapped the animals, shows several articulated mammoth skeletons. In the foreground, where a staff member is cleaning bone, is a full-grown male mammoth, dubbed "Napoleon," which would have stood at least 10 feet seven inches (3.2 meters) at the shoulder. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Mygatt-Moore Quarry: near Fruita, Colo.
www.dinosaurjourney.org ; (970) 858-7282
This quarry was first discovered in 1981, when the Mygatt and Moore families were taking a hike and, resting on a break, realized they were sitting on a dinosaur bone....[More]
Mygatt-Moore Quarry: near Fruita, Colo.
www.dinosaurjourney.org; (970) 858-7282
This quarry was first discovered in 1981, when the Mygatt and Moore families were taking a hike and, resting on a break, realized they were sitting on a dinosaur bone. Since then, about 4,000 fossils have been identified, nearly all of them dinosaurs from the Jurassic period. Among the seven genera discovered: Allosaurus, Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) and Diplodocus. Visitors can watch bones being excavated during the summer months; call ahead for details. This photo shows the femur of an allosaur, shortly after it was excavated. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Petrified Forest National Park: near Holbrook, Ariz.
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/ ; (928) 524-6228
This stretch of petrified forest, which runs along Interstate 40 in Arizona, was first discovered in the 1850s during a military expedition....[More]
Petrified Forest National Park: near Holbrook, Ariz.
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/; (928) 524-6228
This stretch of petrified forest, which runs along Interstate 40 in Arizona, was first discovered in the 1850s during a military expedition. The petrified logs date back to the late Triassic period, where it is believed they were buried along the banks of a river. The combination of mud and sand, as well as volcanic ash blowing in from the west, prevented decomposition and, over time, solidified the trees into a rocklike substance. This photo, taken near one of the three walking trails, shows the numerous petrified logs that are easily visible, some more than 180 feet (55 meters) long. [Less] [Link to this slide]
Wyoming Dinosaur Center: Thermopolis, Wyoming
http://www.wyodino.org/ ; (800) 455-3466
Since excavation began in the early 1990s, about 60 dinosaur fossil sites have been identified....[More]
Wyoming Dinosaur Center: Thermopolis, Wyoming
http://www.wyodino.org/; (800) 455-3466
Since excavation began in the early 1990s, about 60 dinosaur fossil sites have been identified. Weather permitting, excavation continues at four to six sites at any given time. Visitors can take a 10-minute bus ride to one of the sites, where they can see hundreds of dinosaur tracks, dozens of bones and some allosaur teeth. It is speculated that the site was a former feeding ground, because the teeth have all been located near a half-grown camarasaur. This photo shows the tooth of an adult allosaur where it was first excavated. [Less] [Link to this slide]
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.
Scientists Confirm Great Antiquity of Sophisticated Cave Art
News Scan Briefs
The Reality of Race
Gene Activity, Not Sequence, Makes Us Human
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.
2 Comments
Add Comment# the Dynamic model of the globe has proved break Ms (a firm cork of the Earth ) and as consequences a divergence of continents, in system weights Ms/magma/a nucleus of a planet-with parameters of axial rotation process of divergence of continents was transient ,after that have proceeded (10) cycles of III natural phenomenon ;DM has proved that present position
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMs in the period bronze was short term sites of the schedule of type (b-b1-f),and a level of Ocean continuously changed from max to min marks; thus break Ms known under name Grand Canyon was formed during a divergence of continents or, that is less probable during (10) cycles
of III natural phenomenon
# on a question when there was break Ms, the DM allows to receive following answer: during process type (a1-a) at the area of an ice dome about 100 million in km2 for 20 thousand years the level of Ocean went down on 300 meters (as science underwater archaeology for given
time cannot precisely define min a mark of Ocean in point (a) ,that having accepted average size
of process (a1-a) ~35-40 thousand years we receive the answer: divergence Ms has taken place
~ 350-400 thousand years ), after that have proceeded (10) processes of type (a1-a) and (b-b1)
consequences of these processes in territory of Europe and America very much differed
# having taken into account above the listed feature which has proved DM it is possible to try to establish objectively when there was break Ms named Grand Canyon , thus it is necessary to take into account specificity of processes of type (a1-a) and (b-b1) which followed during the bronze period; the general for fiords Norway and Grand Canyon water polishing of granite fragments
during (10) cycles of III natural phenomenon
IT"S COOL!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this