It’s not too late to live this childhood dream – you may just uncover the next Jurassic giant!
I don’t think I’m alone in wishing that I was one of those palaeontologists in Jurassic Park, digging up dinosaur bones and then seeing them brought to life and chomping on people.
Well, the latter might still be a fantasy, but you can still fulfil your childhood dream of unearthing ancient fossils in existing fossil quarries right now.
Numerous dig sites around the world, mostly in the United States (US), are open to public. So you don’t have to be an expert researcher to discover your own prehistoric species!
Land Before Time
These quarries are located on rich soils that were once sea beds, making them perfect lands for mining Paleozoic remains.
One popular dig site is the Fossil Safari at Warfield Fossil Quarries in Wyoming, where you can walk in without a booking. The quarry, elevated about two kilometres, was a major watering hole for wildlife and humans for aeons.
The abundance of fossils that can be found here date from 40 to 60 million years – far back in the Eocene Age – and span common fishes like Diplomystus and Mioplosus to rare species like gars and reptiles.
Dig Away
You can keep all of the common species you find, regardless of their size. However, rare species must be kept by the quarry – but you’ll have the glory of having uncovered a unique prehistoric animal!
You don’t have to worry about fruitlessly hunting for fertile ground to mine at the Fossil Safari. The staff has done most of the tough digging for you, so most of the fossils can be found within rocks at the quarry.
Tools, safety equipment and a basic guided lesson are provided when you walk in. That’s right – you don’t have to make a booking at Fossil Safari, which is why it’s one of the more popular dig sites in the US.
Getting to the Quarry
Fossil Safari is also one of the most affordable there – an hour’s hunt costs US$30, four hours for US$75, and a full day from 8am to 4pm for US$100.
Children aged 12 and below get in for half the price, and reviews state that they’ll let toddlers and elderly in for free.
The quarry is located about 35 minutes north-west of Kemmerer Wyoming. You’ll have to take a car out there. It’s about three hours from the nearest airport in Salt Lake City, Utah.
So the next time you’re in the Wild West, take some tools and head out to the quarries. Who knows? You may get a new species named after you. Now that would be a splendid bucket list entry to check off!
By Pamela Chow
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