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RMDRC NEWS:
Field Season is Coming to An End
September
is a time where we are nearing the end of our field season and beginning the
long task of cleaning the fossil bones that were collected over the last few
months. This will continue throughout the winter months when the ground is
frozen and we’re unable to continue digging. We had a very interesting
season this year thus far. We have located more material from a site in
Montana that contains dinosaur and marine creatures, a few exciting parts of
another Oviraptor, a site containing an unknown hadrosaurid, and some more
bits and parts from our “Sir William” dig site.
One of the most exciting parts of paleontology is the discovery of
prehistoric remains. You are the first person to see them after being buried
for millions of years. There is no other feeling that comes close to this.
Many times, we encounter specimen parts that have never been identified and
we have to research the books (many from the late 1800’s) to see if we can
find the best match. One example is a set of bones we are currently working
on that were so strange no one had any idea what they were. After extensive
research, it turned out to be one of the largest Coelacanths ever found. A
Coelacanth is a living fossil still being found alive today in limited parts
of the world.
For events at the museum, September is lining up to become another fun
packed month. Labor Day Weekend kicks off with an astronomy lecture by Dr.
Klebe from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science at
6 pm on Friday. Science shows from our partner “Mad Science”
will include “Up, Up and Away” at
11 am each day and “Fire and Ice” at
1 pm. These
shows are great for the whole family and should not to be missed! Local
adoption agencies will be on hand with dogs and cats looking for homes for
the Labor Day Adopt-A-Thon all weekend as well.
School
tours and home school tours are starting to book for the fall season.
Please call and reserve your date on the calendar. Be sure to mention RMDRC
field trips and outreach opportunities (We’ll go to them) with your
children’s teachers when visiting with them this school year. Scouts Paleo
Patch programs are booking dates as well.
Watch for
more information on The Dino Club, our exclusive members club for the RMDRC.
The Pizza Party August 26 was a lot of fun for everyone. Local musician
Jack Strelec and sons have offered to be the “house band” for RMDRC. Their
performance was enjoyed by all, and many members joined in with dancing and
instrument accompaniment. Florissant Fossil Quarry provided 35 million year
old shale for members to “hunt” for their own fossils. Education Director
Val gave lab tours for a close up look at the specimens we’re currently
working on including the Texas Tylosaur and KU Pliosaur.
As a note to those of you who don't live near Pike's Peak here in
Colorado, we had a special treat a few weeks ago. After a few rain showers
and the clouds began to clear, snow had capped the mountain as a portend to
the coming winter (Side note: Last year we saw our first light snow shower
in September!).
Regards,
Dave Ehlert / RMDRC Director
dave@rmdrc.com
Our newly installed LED sign that I get to play with!
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CURATOR CORNER:
News
In the field:
August proved to be a fruitful time in the field. We are still focused on
the excavation of a disarticulated Lambeosaurine (duckbill) dinosaur in
North-central Montana. This excavation is becoming a large expansive site.
Mike Triebold (owner and founder) and Colin Gore (paleo-technician and site
discoverer) have removed a VERY large portion of the hill (approximately 800
tons of rock) using a Bobcat, a very hardy task – hats off to you two. For a
few weeks during this excavation, we have also been assisted by Dr. Kraig
Derstler from the New Orleans University and two of his students. Other
field crew members I would like to acknowledge: Jacob Jett and Anthony
Maltese. Thank you.
We have just returned to the museum with lots of Lambeosaurine material and
we will be venturing out to continue this site the first full week of
September. Thus far, we have over 300 bones recorded, which include portions
of both iliums, complete ischiums, both pubis, scapulas, lots of caudal,
dorsal, and cervical vertebrae, lots of ribs, both sternal plates,
phalanges, and most recently skull elements. At this time, we hope to
recovered further skull and limb bone material. By our estimations of the
pelvic bones and the skull material, this very large animal might have stood
10-12 feet high at the hips, with a 3-4 foot long skull. Very EXCITING!
News from the lab:
While most of our
paleo-technicians have been out in the field, our staff at the museum has
also been busy with various projects. Currently, we are working on molding
the Pliosaur (marine reptile), on loan from the University of Kansas. When
complete, the specimen will measure nearly 12 feet from paddle to paddle and
approximately 14 feet long. Also, preparation of our Tylosaur (another
marine reptile) is nearing completion and we have begun the restoration and
molding process. We would like to welcome a new paleo-technician to our
staff, Dan Lackovic.
Cheers,
Nikki Hemmesch, Curator
nikki@rmdrc.com
Field crew members, Anthony, Jacob and Mike,
at the Lambeosaurine site. You can see prepared field jackets (white
objects) laying in front of them.
Field crew members, Anthony and Jacob, at the
Lambeosaurine site. Behind Jacob (right) you can see a bone within its rock
matrix that is prepared for a field jacket
(protective cast) to be made around it.
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DINOSAUR NEWS:
From around the world,
here is the latest collection of recent finds and studies
Ok, here are the bad guys of fossil collecting. Unfortunately, these
villains just don't get it. Rule #1: Don't collect on public land. Period.
Forest Service: Fossil poaching running rampant
Our friends across the
Atlantic know a fossil when they see it. The question is, how long does it
take to find a fossil flea?
Scientists discover flea fossil
Not really science news,
but for those of you who follow "Brad", here is a snippet of his latest
travels.
Jolie, Pitt visit Alberta's dinosaur exhibit
Similiar to real estate,
the key words here are funding, funding, funding.
Dinosaur police extinct
Now for the HOT topic that
may continue on for eons. For those interested, lots of data in multiple
articles.
Darwin and Evolution
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NEW SPECIMEN:
We recently completed an
order for South Korea that included a new mount of our Dromaeosaur. This
mount is a spectacular display of a theropod as it appeared in the ground,
also called an "in-situ" mount. I have included a picture of this below...
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd @
6pm
Join us at the RMDRC for
60 Minutes in Space presented
by Dr. Dimitri Klebe from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Dr Klebe
brings in the latest news on space exploration and the happenings from
deep in our Universe.
SATURDAY,
SEPT. 3rd - MONDAY, SEPT. 5th
Science shows from "MAD SCIENCE" all three days.
"Up, Up and Away" 11 am
This spellbinding special
event illustrates the principles of air pressure. Children will be
astonished as a soda bottle is crushed by the atmosphere, and will learn how
the forces at work affect the world around us. Mad Scientists will make a
hot air balloon out of a dry-cleaning bag and have a volunteer demonstrate
the science behind a parachute. Watch a vortex generator at work, ride a
hovercraft, and see how pressure can be used to create cinematic special
effects! It’s all possible when you send kids Up, Up and Away!
"Fire and
Ice" 1 pm
Children will be dazzled
by the impressive science demonstrations in this spectacular show! From
foggy dry ice storms and gravity-defying beach balls to a Mad Science
burp-flavored potion, audiences will be amazed by what they see, hear, and
ugh… taste! Ever see scissors sizzle and shiver? Ever taken a bubble shower?
Here’s your chance!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 3rd - MONDAY,
SEPT. 5th
Labor Day Weekend ADOPT-A-THON
Stop by and check out the dogs, cats and
reptiles available from various animal rescue agencies including Teller
County Regional Animal Shelter (TCRAS), AARF, Colorado Springs All Breed
Rescue, Mountainaire Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary and other.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th
Come and visit the "Cruise Above the Clouds"
where vintage cars of all types will be on display just across the street
from the RMDRC in downtown Woodland Park.
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Call today
to book your school tour to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource
Center!!
Tours
include Pre Activity Guides for all ages that includes dinosaur and museum
background information, student activities, and a scavenger hunt to be used
after the tour.
. The
Guided Tour includes a chance to explore the fabulous dinosaur exhibits,
learn what a paleontologist does, discover how fossils are formed and
preserved, identify what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, learn where fossils
are found, see what lived in the ocean 66 million years ago and see how
fossils are prepared in our paleo lab.
The Guided
Tour lasts
approximately 1 1/2 hours
Special
pricing for classes available.
Call Tracie at 686-1820
X112
to schedule your date
TODAY!
Not able to come to us?
We now offer an Outreach Program where we bring our education
department to YOU! We have a wide selection of topics to choose from.
Call us for a brochure.
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The beginning of the Lambeosaurine excavation site in July, located in
Montana.
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Rocky
Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
