A surprising discovery has emerged from the depths of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, as a dinosaur fossil was found beneath its own parking lot. During a routine drilling operation in January 2024, aimed at assessing the feasibility of geothermal energy, museum scientists extracted core samples from 763 feet below the surface. One of these samples revealed vertebrae from a dinosaur, leaving museum staff astonished.
Geology curator James Hagadorn described his reaction: “My jaw fell on the floor. My eyes were about as big as saucers.” With over 35 years of experience at the museum, Hagadorn emphasized the rarity of such a find, stating, “Finding a dinosaur bone in a core is like hitting a hole in one from the moon. It’s incredible, it’s super rare.”
The fossil, believed to be approximately 67.5 million years old, is thought to belong to a dinosaur that once inhabited a swampy environment abundant in vegetation. Patrick O’Connor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the museum, noted, “This animal was living in what was probably a swampy environment that would have been heavily vegetated at the time.”
A Unique Geological Opportunity
According to a news release from the museum, this fossil represents the “deepest and oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within the city’s limits.” Experts are considering various possibilities for the dinosaur’s identity, including Thescelosaurus or Edmontosaurus. The excitement of such a significant discovery has not gone unnoticed by the museum staff.
Hagadorn expressed the thrill of uncovering such history, comparing it to “finding a diamond deposit under the world’s largest gem store.” He pointed out that similar fossils have been unearthed during construction projects, including those at Coors Field and Denver International Airport.
The implications of this find extend beyond mere curiosity. “The exciting thing to me is that there’s the potential to find more,” Hagadorn stated. He highlighted the importance of such fossils in understanding ecological changes over millions of years, saying, “They tell us about our place, they tell us about our ecosystems, and they tell us how the planet has changed. So it’s a win, win, win.”
Future of the Discovery
While the fossil pieces will be displayed to the public, the remainder of the dinosaur will remain where it was found. Digging deeper to retrieve more fossils poses significant challenges. “To go that deep, you’ve got to dig a very big hole and then hold that hole open either by lining it or making it tapered,” Hagadorn explained. He acknowledged that such an endeavor would likely consume the entire parking lot and possibly part of the museum itself.
Nevertheless, the prospect of what lies beneath the surface continues to captivate Hagadorn. “The layers of Earth underneath us tell us stuff that’s useful, whether that information is from a fossil or a mineral or some water that’s flowing underfoot,” he remarked. He encouraged a sense of wonder about the unknown, saying, “Imagine what’s underneath your house or mine. Who knows?”
This unique fossil discovery not only enriches the museum’s collection but also enhances our understanding of ancient ecosystems and the history of life on Earth.
