In a discovery that stunned scientists and thrilled dinosaur enthusiasts, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has uncovered a 67.5-million-year-old dinosaur vertebra buried 763 feet below its own north parking lot. The fossil was found during a $250,000 geothermal drilling project funded by Colorado’s Energy Office, aimed at exploring sustainable heating options for the museum.
“This is basically like winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning on the same day,” said Dr. James Hagadorn, curator of geology at the museum.
Deepest Dinosaur Fossil Ever Found in Denver
The fossil was recovered from a 2-inch-wide borehole, making the odds of hitting a dinosaur bone astronomically low.
It is now officially the deepest and oldest dinosaur fossil ever discovered within Denver city limits.
The bone fragment measured approximately 1.9 inches long, 2.3 inches wide, and 2.3 inches tall before partially fracturing during extraction.
Museum paleontologists believe the fossil belonged to a small herbivorous dinosaur, possibly a Thescelosaurus or Edmontosaurus, which roamed the swampy lowlands of prehistoric Denver during the Late Cretaceous period.
A Glimpse Into Denver’s Ancient Ecosystem
The fossil was embedded in sedimentary rock layers formed by the South Platte River, alongside fossilized vegetation, indicating a lush, tropical environment teeming with life. According to Dr. Patrick O’Connor, director of Earth & Space Sciences, “This may be the most unusual dinosaur discovery I have ever been a part of”.
Despite the excitement, museum officials confirmed there are no plans to excavate further, citing the need for parking space. The fossil is now on display in the museum’s “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibition.
