Construction workers at Dinosaur National Monument have uncovered fossils believed to belong to the Diplodocus during a parking lot renovation, marking the first significant find in over a century.
In a remarkable turn of events, construction workers at Dinosaur National Monument made an extraordinary discovery while working on a parking lot renovation. The project unearthed fossils believed to belong to the Diplodocus, a large, long-necked dinosaur.
This significant find occurred during a routine parking lot project near the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where workers removed asphalt in mid-September. Upon exposing dinosaur-bearing sandstone, park staff identified the remains on September 16, prompting an immediate halt to construction to allow paleontologists to assess the discovery.
The Diplodocus fossils are particularly notable as this species is commonly found in the area’s historic bonebed. Park officials reported that a collaborative effort involving park staff, a Utah Conservation Corps crew, volunteers, and construction workers facilitated the excavation of the remains.
Between mid-September and mid-October, crews successfully removed approximately 3,000 pounds of fossils and surrounding rock. The extracted material is currently undergoing cleaning and study at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, where visitors have the unique opportunity to observe the preparation process in the museum’s fossil lab.
The site where these fossils were found had not been excavated since 1924, when fossil removal efforts ceased following a series of early 20th-century digs led by prominent institutions such as the Carnegie Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the University of Utah. Dinosaur National Monument itself was established in 1915.
Some of the newly uncovered fossils are already on display at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, often referred to as the “Wall of Bones.” This exhibit hall is the park’s most popular attraction and is situated atop the original Carnegie quarry, where visitors can view approximately 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in rock.
Following the excavation, crews completed the parking lot and road improvement project, which included new concrete and asphalt work, as well as accessibility upgrades around the exhibit hall. The discovery not only enhances the park’s paleontological significance but also enriches the visitor experience.
This exciting find underscores the ongoing potential for discovery within Dinosaur National Monument, a site that continues to reveal its prehistoric past. According to National Park Service, the collaboration among various teams exemplifies the dedication to preserving and studying these remarkable remnants of the Earth’s history.