Day: 13 August 2007
Location: Outside of St. Louis, Missourri
Entry by: Robert DePalma
The journey out west has begun once again. The expedition left Florida
yesterday and is bound for Harding County, South Dakota. The team
is being led by me, once again, and will include South Florida student
Robert Feeney and Palm Beach Museum Director Rudolph Pascucci. Rudy
will join the team in the field later in the season. At this point,
Feeney and I are on our way out to South Dakota to set up base camp
and begin field research of an ancient Cretaceous streambed site.
The main South Dakota site is a treasure trove of information, with
examples of nearly every vertebrate species known in the Hell Creek
Formation. A little over 65 million years ago, a vast river network,
similar to the Mississippi River, ran through North Dakota, South
Dakota, and Montana. One tributary of this river system is the subject
of our study. Similar to what happens along large rivers today, the
local animals of the day, namely dinosaurs, reptiles, birds, and
small mammals died and their bones were washed downstream. Over time
the bones accumulated in lenses along the river course and were covered
by sediment. After millions of years underground, the bones became
mineralized, and turned to stone. By carefully excavating the ancient
streambed we can better understand the animals that lived 65 million
years ago, as well as forming a detailed picture of the paleo environment
of the area. In the past, such sites have produced bones of such
exciting dinosaurs as Tyrannosaurus rex, Edmontosaurus, Triceratops,
and Pachycephalosaurus.
And now, you can follow us on our journey, read our field notes,
view updated photos from the dig site and ask us questions about
the expedition. So, check back often and browse through our updated
expedition reports!
Day: 14 August 2007
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Entry by: Robert DePalma
Though the expedition is targeting Cretaceous dinosaur remains
as the main area of study, many paleo environments will be
sampled along
the way. Yesterday, several Ordovician marine outcrops were
examined, producing an amazing diversity of bryozoan, brachiopod,
crinoid,
and rugose coral specimens. Check back soon for scanned reports
on the Ordovician site.
Another site of interest is a Pennsylvanian terrestrial deposit
in eastern Kansas. At this site, Feeney and I collected amazing
plant
specimens of Pennsylvanian age, a time period long before the
first dinosaur existed.
Day: 15 August 2007
Location: Base Camp, South Dakota
Entry by: Robert DePalma
After a long, hard journey east, we have reached the beautiful
prairie of South Dakota. The golden, rolling hills and barren,
rocky badlands
are prime prospecting grounds for dinosaur remains. More
importantly, the information that the rocks and bones can provide
are of
prime importance to our study of the area.
The trek from Kansas to South Dakota was long, and we arrived
at the site around sunset. Consequently, base camp had to
be set up
in the dark, in the drizzling rain. Ideal conditions are
not always met in the field, and the team must persevere
in order
to succeed.
It is not uncommon for winds to reach 55 to 75 miles per
hour out here, and for hail stones to be as large as golf
balls.
Only the
most determined and sturdy scientists choose to endure such
perils in their quest for knowledge and education.
Day: 17 August 2007
Location: Base Camp, South Dakota
Entry by: Robert DePalma
Terrible rain storms plagued us all day yesterday. Because
the area rarely gets any rainfall, when a storm hits the
ground immediately
floods and extremely high winds are common. Camp was nearly
destroyed as 65 mile per hour winds tore through base camp,
tattering the awnings
and hurling water into the tents. Luckily all of our electronic
gear and scientific equipment is packed in water-tight
crates.
Today, however, we re-opened the dig site and removed excess
overburden strata above the bone-producing layer. In doing
so, we discovered
some spectacular fossil turtle material along the weathered
edge of the site, as well as amber, plant material, and
one large section
of fossil log. The log, itself, is the most significant
find of the day, as large sections of plant material are
rather
rare. The log
that Feeney found is nearly 6 feet long and very nicely
preserved! It will take some special preservation techniques
to stabilize
and remove this specimen, but the intention is to bring
it back for study
and display.
The turtle specimens found were very similar to the modern
varieties of turtles one might see in a lake or stream.
We have identified
several types of stream turtles, soft-shelled turtles,
and even one gigantic tortoise, whose skull would have
been the
size of a softball!
Day: 19 August 2007
Location: Base Camp, South Dakota
Entry by: Robert DePalma
Work has continued at the streambed site, producing remains
of at least 7 different species of vertebrate, including
dinosaurs, reptiles,
and mammals. Details of these specimens will come soon,
accompanied by photos and sketched schematics.
