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Inspiring minds through nature and science. Come and explore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alaskan Dinosaur Expedition
July 26 |
| The weather is very heavy today. The temperature seems to be hovering around 50 degrees, but with the wind it feels much lower than that. The weather has shifted so it is coming in from the east, and it is quite blustery. I am downright miserable by lunchtime. It’s great that we have hot food.
Excavation continues, and this bone bed is a mess. Between the permafrost and the roots from the tundra plants, I’m amazed anything is left. Finally I found a bone I can trace and it seems to be a tibia (shin bone) of a duck-billed dinosaur; we also found a couple of phalanges (knuckle bones). The highlight of my day, though, was finding a small theropod tooth. By the end of the day, I have a bit more confidence in the quarry site. Further, in the other pit, Kevin, Lizzie and Linda have uncovered a large bone, perhaps a dinosaur skull. Dinner was scalloped potatoes and smoked whitefish. A group of five golden plovers flew overhead as we broke up for our tents. We also discovered a nest with three baby redpolls, right by our kitchen table, so we moved the table. The group has taken to reading outdoor stories by Patrick McManus and howling the evenings away. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so much. McManus is a real favorite of Dave’s, and I’m glad Dave has introduced him to me. Dave is an ornithologist, a Harvard Ph.D. living in Barrow, and I find him great company. |