Paleontologists with the Utah Geological Survey broke ground on a new excavation site dubbed the Ironstone Bonebed in the Utah desert just outside Arches National Park, uncovering fossils that represent the aftermath of a mass extinction event roughly 138 to 141 million years ago.
Ironstone Bonebed Excavation Reveals Transition Period
Teams began digging at the site in mid-October after assistant state paleontologist Don DeBlieux first stumbled upon the location while hiking in a remote stretch of desert in the southeast corner of the state. DeBlieux encountered several bones from an Ankylosaurus, a massive and heavily armored herbivorous species, according to reports from KSTU-TV cited by SFGATE.
The land sits in a rust-colored rock formation near Arches National Park. The site is now tied with Doelling’s Bowl as the oldest Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed in North America.
Bonebed Captures Recovery After Jurassic Dinosaurs Went Extinct
Researchers believe the bonebed captures the transition from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous period. During this window, lasting roughly 138 to 141 million years ago, prominent dinosaur lineages like Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Apatosaurus disappeared during a major evolutionary shakeup.
“At the end of the Jurassic, all of our famous dinosaurs went extinct,” Utah state paleontologist Jim Kirkland told KSTU-TV. “And here we’re looking at what the recovery looks like.” Kirkland is overseeing the excavation alongside DeBlieux.
Uncovering Four Dinosaur Kinds Including a Potential New Species
Excavation teams have pulled multiple bones from the ground at the Ironstone Bonebed, located miles from the Dalton Wells quarry at Utahraptor State Park and Doelling’s Bowl. Kirkland told KSL-TV that researchers have identified at least four different kinds of dinosaurs in the area so far, including a seemingly new species of armored dinosaur.
“We’ve barely scratched it,” Kirkland told KSL-TV, noting that the pristine slope holds decades of future work. In recognition of a 25-year partnership, Kirkland is investigating the new ankylosaur species and plans to name it after DeBlieux, who retires at the end of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ironstone Bonebed
Where is the Ironstone Bonebed located?
The site sits in the Utah desert just outside Arches National Park in the remote southeast corner of the state. It is positioned miles from other notable fossil locations such as Doelling’s Bowl and the Dalton Wells quarry.
How old are the fossils found at the site?
The fossils date back 138 to 141 million years to the boundary where the Jurassic period transitioned into the Cretaceous period. This makes the Ironstone Bonebed tied as the oldest Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed in North America.
What animals have paleontologists identified at the dig?
Researchers have recovered bones from a massive, heavily armored Ankylosaurus and identified at least four different kinds of dinosaurs in total. Paleontologists working at the site have likely uncovered a new species of Ankylosaurus.
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