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What is the context of this research?

The ecosystem that existed in the northern Great Plains during the Late Cretaceous has been studied extensively in the famous Hell Creek Formation, but much less so in the nearby Lance Formation. The NJSM's expeditions in the region represent a decades-long research project dedicated to documenting this ancient ecosystem, which in turn helps us to understand the ecosystems that existed in eastern North America at the same time.



The 2014 discovery of a multi-individual bonebed is unprecedented in the history of the research project. Dinosaurs are important and fascinating pieces of the ecological puzzle, and these specimens will yield a wealth of information on the creatures themselves, their world in general, and on the mass extinction that wiped out most of Earth's species shortly after.

What is the significance of this project?

Excavating these dinosaur skeletons will provide us a treasure trove of information about the individual animals themselves - how they lived, and how they died. They'll also tell us about their species in general and their relationships to other species, including those in eastern North America. All of this information will give us better insight into the region's ecosystem at the end of the Cretaceous Period, which may in turn help us to better understand the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.



Even after our studies are complete, these specimens will help us engage countless visitors on paleontology, paleoecology, and many other science topics, for generations to come. We can only guess how many generations of students to come will marvel at and be inspired by these specimens.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to fully excavate the three dinosaur skeletons and to safely transport them to our research labs at the New Jersey State Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Both of these labs are “open" to the public, to the extent that visitors can see and interact with researchers and volunteers preparing and studying the specimens. Hundreds of thousands of visitors to both institutions will be able to do just that as our scientists and students conserve, prepare, and study the specimens.





Once preparation is complete, the skeletons will be available for exhibition and study by researchers around the world in perpetuity. The specimens and the expedition will be incorporated into educational programming as well.