All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. Park Paleontology news provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources.
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Article 1: Dinosaurs of the National Park Service
Dinosaur fossils have been discovered at or are associated with at least 27 NPS units. Geographically, their finds are concentrated in the parks of the Colorado Plateau, but they have been found from central Alaska to Big Bend National Park in Texas to Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts. The most famous site is the Dinosaur Quarry of Dinosaur National Monument, but a rush of new finds since the 1970s has greatly expanded our knowledge. Read more
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Mesa Verde National Park
Article 2: Fossil Shark Egg Case Discovered at Mesa Verde National Park
A surprising find in Mesa Verde National Park! G. William M. Harrison shares his story of discovering a chimaera egg case. Read more
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Article 3: Bringing Fossils into the Digital Age: Using photogrammetry methods to better study, share and interpret NPS paleontological resources
Structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry methods are an increasingly common component of paleontological research and resource management. SfM methods have become especially important in the field of ichnology and are used to document individual tracks and longer trackways and, in some examples, to recreate lost track sites from historic images. Read more
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Buffalo National River
Article 4: Uncovering the Fossil Record of Buffalo National River
The bedrock of Buffalo National River includes outcrops of nearly twenty different formations, all from the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), and primarily deposited under shallow marine conditions. Read more
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Glacier National Park
Article 5: The Stromatolites of Glacier National Park
The rugged high peaks of Glacier National Park are a beautiful sight to behold, with people traveling from all around the globe to experience this iconic place. The rocks that compose those amazing peaks and valley walls hold the secrets to a time when this land was once covered by a vast shallow sea, a billion and a half years ago. Read more
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Article 6: National Park Service Cave Paleontology
Caves are important environments for the preservation of fossils. Within the National Park Service, a rich diversity of cave fossils have been documented in at least 56 different parks. Read more