A seemingly ordinary construction project has rewritten a chapter in the ancient history held within Dinosaur National Monument. Workers, tasked with repaving a parking lot, stumbled upon something extraordinary – dinosaur fossils, the first discovery at this location in over a century.
The find occurred in mid-September as asphalt was removed, revealing a hidden layer of dinosaur-bearing sandstone. Park staff immediately recognized the significance of the exposed remains on September 16th, bringing construction to a swift halt and summoning paleontologists to the scene.
Initial identification points to the fossils belonging to a Diplodocus, a colossal, long-necked dinosaur remarkably common to this area’s famed bonebed. This discovery isn’t just about finding bones; it’s about reconnecting with a prehistoric world preserved in stone.
The excavation was a collaborative effort, uniting park staff, a dedicated Utah Conservation Corps crew, enthusiastic volunteers, and the construction team itself. Together, they carefully unearthed a remarkable amount of history.
Over a month, from mid-September to mid-October, crews meticulously removed approximately 3,000 pounds of fossils and the surrounding rock. This delicate cargo has now been transported to the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal.
At the museum, a fascinating process is underway: the painstaking cleaning and study of these ancient remains. Visitors have a unique opportunity to witness this work firsthand in the museum’s open fossil lab, observing science in action.
The last major excavation at this site concluded in 1924, following decades of pioneering work by institutions like the Carnegie Museum, the Smithsonian, and the University of Utah. For nearly a century, these layers remained undisturbed, holding their secrets.
Dinosaur National Monument, established in 1915, safeguards a treasure trove of prehistoric life. The newly discovered fossils are already enriching the visitor experience, displayed alongside the iconic “Wall of Bones” at the Quarry Exhibit Hall and at the Utah Field House museum.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall, the park’s most popular destination, stands directly above the original Carnegie quarry. Here, visitors can marvel at roughly 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock face, a breathtaking glimpse into the past.
With the excavation complete, the parking lot and road improvement project has been successfully finished. The upgrades include new concrete and asphalt, along with crucial accessibility improvements around the exhibit hall, ensuring everyone can experience this remarkable site.
