‘Best dinosaur site east of the Mississippi’ is in Maryland — and lots of fossils are being found
Paleontologists in Maryland have discovered what they’re calling the “best dinosaur site east of the Mississippi River.” The site, located in Laurel, Maryland, is yielding a treasure trove of fossils and providing new insights into dinosaur life in eastern North America.
A Significant Discovery
The site was first discovered in 2018 during a construction project, and since then, paleontologists have been working to excavate the area and uncover its secrets. They’ve already found fossils from various dinosaurs, including theropods, ornithopods, and sauropods.
According to Thomas Holtz, a paleontologist at the University of Maryland and one of the excavation leaders, the site is “the most significant and best fossil site east of the Mississippi River.” He added that the fossils found there are “significant” for understanding the evolution and diversity of dinosaurs in the eastern part of North America.
Shedding Light on Dinosaur Life
The Laurel site provides new insights into dinosaur life in the eastern part of North America during the Cretaceous period, which lasted from about 145 million to 66 million years ago. The fossils found there are helping paleontologists understand how dinosaurs adapted to different environments and how they interacted with other animals.
For example, one of the most significant finds at the site is the fossilized remains of a nodosaur, a type of armored dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period. The nodosaur is one of the most complete dinosaur fossils ever found in the eastern United States and is providing new insights into how these animals lived and evolved.
A Window into the Past
The discovery of the dinosaur site in Laurel reminds us of the rich natural history that can be found all around us. It’s also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the paleontologists working to uncover the secrets of the past.
As more fossils are unearthed at the site, we can expect to learn even more about the dinosaurs that once roamed the eastern part of North America. And who knows – maybe one day, we’ll even be able to see these incredible creatures brought back to life through the magic of science.
