By Razeen Gutta
In a remarkable discovery, the Denver museum of nature and science has unearthed a fossilised dinosaur vertebra under its own parking lot.The fossil, estimated to be around 67.5 million years old, was found in a core sample drilled over 750 feet deep to study geothermal heating potential.
According to museum officials, the odds of finding a dinosaur bone in such a small borehole are incredibly low, making this discovery all the more remarkable.
“Finding a dinosaur bone in a core is like hitting a hole in one from the moon. It’s like winning the Willy Wonka factory. It’s incredible, it’s super rare,” James Hagadorn, the museum’s curator of geology said per AP.
The fossil is believed to belong to a small, plant-eating dinosaur that lived in a swampy environment during the late Cretaceous period.
While experts have vouched for the find’s legitimacy, reactions have been mixed, with some describing it as “not that exciting” due to the inability to identify the exact species.
Despite this, the discovery is still considered significant, and the fossil is now on display at the museum.
While there is no plan to excavate further, the find has sparked excitement among dinosaur enthusiasts and highlights the rich paleontological history beneath the city’s surface.
Erin LaCount, director of education programs at the dinosaur ridge track site just west of Denver noted, “It’s absolutely legit and VERY COOL!”
The unexpected discovery has added a new layer of fascination to the museum’s already impressive dinosaur collection.
Pictured above: Dinosaur fossil
Source: @intengineering
