2008-07-27
Where Is Grande Prairie, Alberta
Here is a map showing you where this dinosaur dig took place. Believe it or not, i was able to fly from Tucson to Grande Prairie (with stops and plane changes in Denver and Edmonton.)
Our First View Of Wapiti River
Fom the vehicle parking spot, it was about a 20 minute hike to this point. The dinosaur dig site was about 200 feet below. To get to the site we had to scramble down two separate rope lines.
Quarry Work In Action
The narrow quarry was perched at the edge of the cliff. Here everyone is heads-down working on a specific section.
Small but Important Bone - an epigugal
I uncovered this bone while clearing away some rock that was in the way Identified as a part of a jaw, the bone was tagged with its relevent information - e.g., discovery location, date of discovery, discoverer, etc.
View of Quarry
Note the steep dropoff to the right!
Down River View From Quarry
Along the river below, we saw grizzly, deer, and eagles.
Quarry Mapping
Every uncovered bone is mapped to ensure that no scientific information is lost. Here, two graduate students from the University of Alberta use a one square meter grid to map bones.
These grad students are lucky enough to have Phil Currie as their advisor and both were a delight to have at the quarry.
View Up Lower Rope Line
This is a view straight up the lower, shorter rope line. While not much work coming down, it was a real bear to struggle up the line at the end of a tiring day or when one had to leave the quarry for a bio-break.
Steve Going Up Lower Rope
At the end of a long, hot day, I climb up and out of the quarry. Steps had been cut into the wall to simplify this assent but it was still hard work when one was tired.
Steve Coming Up Upper Rope
There were two rope line to get to the pachyrhinosaurus quarry. Coming up this second line was hard work. Not only that, there was a quarter-mile, up-hill trail after one got to the top.
Posing in Front of Pachyrhinosaurus Skeleton
With other volunteer members of the team, I am standing in front of a pachyrhinosaurus skeleton. This picture provides an idea of the animal's size.
One Day it Rained
Here I am after a heavy rain caused the bentonite-covered hillsides to become (literally) as slick as teflon. Slipping, I slid down the hill and became covered with mud. I was very lucky to walk away with nothing more that scratches on my legs.
Group Picture
With the beautiful Wapiti River in the distance, here is a group picture of Dr. Currie, his wife Dr. Eva Koppelhus (in orange), three U of A grad students and two volunteers (the young lady in front is a graduate student.) By this time most of the other volunteers had left for home.
Fossil Close-up Showing Blood Vessels
This extraordinary fossil shows the layout and shape of blood vessels which once nourished the protective grill above a pachyrhinosaur's neck.
Hardosaur Vertebrete
This is the neural spine that sticks up off of the back of a vertebrate. It turned out that this bone belonged to a type of duckbill dinosaur and was the first duckbill bone found in the quarry.
Vertebrate Fossil Found in Pieces
I found this dinosaur vertebrate was found in multiple pieces - a a condition very typical of uncovered dinosaur bones. This bone is the spine that sits at the back of a vertebrate and to which muscles and tendons attach. The challenge was to find all the pieces and to get them correctly oriented.
Glued Hadrosaur Vertebrate
After finding most of the pieces to this bone, I attempted to glue them into propoer position. Duckbill dinosaurs are known as "hadrosaurs."
Steve's Hadrosaur Vertebrate Discovery
Here I am with the neural spine from the vertebrate of a duckbill dinosaur. Uncovered in multiple pieces, the bone had to be meticulously glued back together.
Pipestone Creek Museum Sign
In the mid-70's, another pachyrhinosaurus bone bed had been found about 15 miles from where we were working. Lead by Dr. Currie, this bonebed was excavated in the late 80's.
Both our team and a group of local residents met early one morning to visit the site. There was even a Edmonton TV crew there to both interview Dr. Currie and to report on the plans to build a world class museum at the location.
Pipestone Creek Museum Building
This building houses the temporary Pipestone Creek Museum. Hopefully within 5 years it will be replaced by a wonderful new museum complex. There is already a building designed and a large fund-raising effort underway.
Pachyrhinosaurus Skull Exhibit
Within the temporary Pipestone Creek Museum are a number of fine Pachyrhinosaurus exhibits. This skull is about 5 feet long.
Phil Currie Television Interview
We were met at Pipestone Creek by an Edmonton TV crew who both interviewed Phil and visited the pachyrhinosaurus bone bed. Although it contains pachyrhinosaur skeletons, this massive bone bed is of a different time (about 4 million years apart) and about 15 miles from the Wapiti River bone bed where we were working.
At the Pipestone Creek Quarry
In this quarry space - not much larger that a fair-sized kitchen - 23 pachyrhinosaurus skeletons were uncovered! A massive bone bed, the actual bone field stretches in all directions from where everyone is standing.
So great is the scientific value of this location, the people of Grande Prairie are planning a major dinosaur museum that will highlight this discovery.
Every One Chips In At Dinner Time
There is nothing like an tasty dinner to finish a long, hard day in the field. Here graduate student, Mike Burns, volunteer, Jerry Fagan, and Dr. Eva Koppelhus clean-up after another excellent meal.
Dinosaur Bone
Uncovered by me on our first day, this bone looked like just part of a dinosaur's rib. However, once I got it out, it proved to be an ilium - an important part of a Pachyrhinosaurus pelvis.
Steve Busy at Work
Here I am cleaning a bone uncovered within the quarry. Seated next to me is the world-famous paleontologist, Dr. Phillip Currie.
Quarry Work
Most all quarry work is unglamorous and downright tedious. However, what makes it so much fun is the knowledge that at any moment, you might uncover something millions of years old that has never before been seen by human eyes.
Pachyrhinosaurus Skull
Next to the blue scale is the eye socket of a pachyrhinosaurus. During my 9 days in the quarry, 5 skulls were pulled out.
Dirty Quarry Work
A couple of volunteers dip burlap strips into plaster one of the blocks that contain a pachyrhinosaurus skull.
Helicopter Lift
The best way to get the heavy blocks of jacketed rock out of the quarry was by helicopter.