Abstract

The quarry at Dinosaur National Monument is one of the greatest dinosaur quarries ever discovered. The remains of nearly 100 dinosaurs, belonging to ten species, along with fossils of animals and plants that lived with them, provide a glimpse of a community that is 145 million yrs old. This community was dominated by the giant brontosaurs (Apatosaurus, Barosaurus, Camarasuarus, Diplodocus), which reached weights of nearly 35 tons. Other dinosaurs found here include the herbivorous Stegosaurus, Camptosaurus, and Dryosaurus, as well as the meat-eating Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus. Fossils found at Dinosaur National Monument have made major contributions to our understanding of dinosaur biology, anatomy, and evolution. Although early excavations removed many specimens, the goal of the work today is to expose as many bones as possible in a permanent in-place exhibit within the Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center.