Past Time

Episode 20: Digging the Dawn of Dinosaurs – Paleontology at Ghost Ranch

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Hi all. Adam Pritchard here.

I’ve been thinking about telling the story of my field experience in the Triassic-aged Chinle Formation of northern New Mexico for many years. The Hayden Quarry fossil site at Ghost Ranch has produced the best-preserved and most diverse record of American dinosaurs from the Triassic of North America, plus some of the strangest reptiles that ever lived. I’ve been proud to be a part of the Ghost Ranch field crew for nearly a decade now!

Paleontologist Adam Pritchard excavating around a mini plaster jacket, likely containing some kind of tiny reptile fossil.

 

The 2017 Ghost Ranch field crew, standing proud by H4.

First off, here are some links to exhibits and museum experiences relating to the Ghost Ranch project, including the recent Hayden Quarry discoveries:

 

The Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology at Ghost Ranch

  • https://www.ghostranch.org/explore/museums/museum-of-paleontology/
  • Check out the Ghost Ranch exhibit in the heart of it all, filled with the awesome fossils from the Triassic Period. Includes links for school groups and to join tours of the local fossil sites led by Ghost Ranch staffers!

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    Paleontology at Ghost Ranch Jan-Term courses

    • https://www.ghostranch.org/retreats/category/retreats/archaeology-geology-paleontology/
    • In addition to summer classes, there is a winter paleontology experience at Ghost Ranch that runs through January. Members of the classes have discovered some amazing, valuable fossils from the Hayden Quarry site!

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      Shelf Life episode about the Ghost Ranch area and dinosaur evolution.

      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=567bv6xmuss
      • A video from the American Museum of Natural History on its role in uncovering the amazing discoveries at the Coelophysis

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        I thought it’d also be good to add some links to the MANY books scientific

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        Past TimeBy Matt Borths, Adam Pritchard, Catherine Early
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