A museum in the US, renowned for its dinosaur exhibits, has unearthed a fossilised bone beneath its own car park, an unexpected find that occurred during a geothermal drilling project over 230 metres deep. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a favourite destination for dinosaur fans of all ages, showcasing magnificent full-size skeletons. However, the discovered fossil—shaped like a hockey puck—is not as visually striking, yet the chance of finding such a specimen was remarkably low.
Museum officials highlighted the improbability of the discovery, considering the borehole’s narrow diameter of just five centimetres. Geology curator James Hagadorn compared the rarity of finding a dinosaur bone in a drilling core sample to striking a hole-in-one from the moon—an extraordinary stroke of luck. Such finds in borehole samples are extremely limited, with only two comparable discoveries recorded globally, making this event even more exceptional for a dinosaur museum.
The fossil is believed to be a vertebra from a small herbivorous dinosaur that roamed the earth around 67.5 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period. In addition to the bone, the drilling project uncovered fossilised vegetation, indicating that this dinosaur lived in a lush, possibly swampy environment.
Over the years, multiple dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the area, including remains of Tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops. According to Patrick O’Connor, the museum’s curator of vertebrate paleontology, this discovery is the oldest and deepest of its kind in Denver. While some experts have expressed mixed reactions regarding the scientific excitement, the legitimacy of the find remains undisputed.
Erin LaCount, from the Dinosaur Ridge track site, called the finding “absolutely legit and VERY COOL,” speculating that the fossil may belong to a duck-billed dinosaur or a closely related species, Thescelosaurus. The fossil is currently on display at the museum, but there are no immediate plans for further excavation beneath the car park due to practical parking needs. Hagadorn humorously remarked on the desire to excavate further, but acknowledged the necessity of retaining parking facilities.