AI Image
Possible new dinosaur species discovered at dig site near Arches National Park
KSL News • • science
Key Points:
- A new excavation site called the Ironstone Bonebed near Arches National Park in Utah has uncovered fossils that may belong to a previously unknown species of armored dinosaur dating back approximately 140 million years.
- The site contains fossils from at least four different dinosaur species and is positioned just above the Morrison Formation, making it one of the oldest Cretaceous sites in North America with potentially hundreds of thousands of bones buried.
- Utah state paleontologists Jim Kirkland and Don DeBlieux, who have collaborated for 25 years, are leading the excavation, which is expected to provide decades of research opportunities and insights into post-Jurassic extinction events.
- Kirkland plans to name the newly discovered dinosaur species in honor of DeBlieux, who is retiring later this year, highlighting their long-standing professional partnership and friendship.
- The discovery not only advances scientific knowledge but also serves as a meaningful tribute to DeBlieux’s career and contributions to paleontology in Utah.
