If you ever drive through southeastern Wyoming, you'll spy rolling hills, sagebrush, small buttes and endless prairie grazed by thousands of cattle. Who would ever imagine that underneath this bucolic landscape lies the burial grounds of ancient creatures?
After a one year hiatus, the kids and I headed back to the Hansen Research Center in eastern Wyoming to dig for more dinosaur bones. Drive 22 miles south of the nearest town; 15 miles down a dirt road (go left at all of the forks in the road); turn left on the cattle path in the middle of the field (be sure to close the gate behind you!); and then drive a further 3 miles across the prairie and around the stone outcropping to find the research center where we set up our tent.
From there, it's another mile or so to the various dig sites. We were assigned spots in the south camp and immediately got to work. Anabel found some unidentifiable bone fragments and several pieces of cartilage.
Thane unearthed a rather large bone toward the end of day 1, but as it will take a few days to unearth this specimen we'll have to wait until next year to discover exactly what kind of bone it is.
While taking a break, Thane and some other boys started sorting through a nearby rubble pile in search of hidden treasures. The adults told them it was a useless task, but we were proved wrong when Thane found a fully intact (roots and all) Hadrosaurus tooth.
It was another great visit.
We are hoping that Jordan can join in the fun next year!
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