By: Andy Rich People often ask, “Why do so many people come all the way to Montana for fossils?” Montana seems to have a little bit of everything when it comes to fossils. From ancient fish, fabulous dinosaurs, mighty elephants, and so much more, Montana was home to a diverse range of wonderful organisms. The… Continue reading Why Dig in Montana?
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From Field to Museum: Research & Education
By Andy Rich Once fossils are removed from the field and prepared in the lab, they are ready to be researched or displayed. But where do we start? If we want to research fossils, the first thing we need is a research project. This is a question that you have and want to answer. Let’s… Continue reading From Field to Museum: Research & Education
From Field to Museum: Part 2, the Lab
By Andy Rich After carefully removing fossils from the field and transporting them to the museum, we have plenty of lab work to do. Fossil preparation, or prep for short, involves all the steps required to make sure fossils can be researched and/or displayed. Prep involves, but is not limited to, removing excess rock from… Continue reading From Field to Museum: Part 2, the Lab
From Field to Museum: Part 1, the Field
By Andy Rich It’s a thrilling moment to find a fossil while digging. However, how do you get to that point and what do you do after? We at The Montana Dinosaur Center pride ourselves on involving the public in citizen science. In our dig programs our staff trains you in finding and excavating fossils:… Continue reading From Field to Museum: Part 1, the Field
Planning the Ultimate Montana Road Trip: Yellowstone to Glacier via Choteau
If you are dreaming up a classic Montana road trip, the route between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park deserves serious consideration. One of the most scenic and surprisingly efficient ways to connect the two is by traveling US Highway 89, with a day-trip fossil dig expedition with the Montana Dinosaur Center. This north–south… Continue reading Planning the Ultimate Montana Road Trip: Yellowstone to Glacier via Choteau
TMDC Researcher Published in PALAIOS
Montana Dinosaur Center paleontologist Andy has published a new peer-reviewed article in PALAIOS, a leading journal in paleontology and sedimentary research. The study was conducted as part of Andy’s master’s research under the guidance of Professor Keenan. The paper examines how mosasaur fossils from the Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale in South Dakota… Continue reading TMDC Researcher Published in PALAIOS
The 4 S’s of Fossil Identification
We get asked a lot, “How do you tell the difference between a dinosaur bone and a regular rock?” As paleontologists, we use a simple trick, The 4 S’s. Each S stands for a feature that fossilized bone will have. Shape: Bones have very specific shapes. If you see a femur shaped rock, there is… Continue reading The 4 S’s of Fossil Identification
4th Favorite Hat – Episode 02 Show Notes
This episode of Fourth Favorite Hat drops listeners straight into the Montana Dinosaur Center’s field banter, with Andy, Brett, and Bryce swapping “Graveyard” digsite stories after introducing their fourth-favorite hats (a Badlands dad cap, a Lake Monsters baseball hat, and a wide-brimmed Denver Zoo hat).
4th Favorite Hat – Episode 01 Show Notes
Andy, Bret, and Bryce break down the geology, environment, and dinosaurs of the Two Medicine Formation, explaining how volcanic ash, ancient climates, and unique preservation created one of Montana’s richest fossil sites. They also share new research from their current dig, “The Graveyard,” and discuss the surprising variety of species found in this Late Cretaceous ecosystem.
Fourth Favorite Hat – Trailer
Three Montana Dinosaur Center paleontologists – Andy, Bret, and Bryce – introduce themselves, their research specialties, and the running gag that inspired the podcast’s title: asking people for their fourth favorite hat. Each host shares their own answer, establishing the blend of science and unserious banter that frames the show. The team explains that the… Continue reading Fourth Favorite Hat – Trailer