Excavation Yields Remarkable Dinosaur Specimen
Paleontologists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Utah have collaborated on a significant dinosaur excavation in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument located in southern Utah. The excavation has unearthed a 75-million-year-old specimen that marks the first largely complete skeleton of its type found in that area.
The dinosaur, a beaked and toothless creature, belonged to a group of theropods known as ornithomimids, which are characterized by their speed. Measuring approximately 8 to 10 feet in length, the well-preserved skeleton was carefully encased in a 5,000-pound plaster jacket for secure transport from the excavation site. Researchers believe this specimen could potentially serve as the definitive example, or holotype, of a new dinosaur species.
Significance of the Find
Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and a recent recipient of the North Carolina Award, highlighted the significance of the find. “This is exactly the kind of fossil paleontologists dream about. A beautifully preserved skeleton with the potential to tell us something genuinely new about dinosaur evolution,” she stated.
The specimen will undergo preparation and analysis at the museum’s SECU DinoLab, where it will be accessible to the public. Zanno and her team, known for their internationally acclaimed paleontology research, will oversee the study. Their recent work has gained attention for establishing that Nanotyrannus is a distinct dinosaur species, separate from juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex.
Public Engagement in Scientific Discovery
Denise Young, Director of the N.C. Museum, emphasized the importance of involving the public in scientific discovery. “The SECU DinoLab was built around a powerful idea: the public shouldn’t have to wait until the science is finished to be part of discovery,” she remarked. By bringing new specimens like this into the lab, the museum aims to provide an opportunity for North Carolinians to witness cutting-edge science as it unfolds in Raleigh.
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, dedicated to promoting the understanding of natural history through research and public engagement.
Source: N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
