Size comparison of well-known dromaeosaurs and an adult human by Gabriel Ugueto
Back in 2001, a graduate student reported his sighting of a single bone, protruding from a rock bed in Utah. When paleontologists tried to excavate the bone, they kept hitting another bone, and another, and another. It turns out, that particular protruding bone led to the discovery of multiple other individuals buried together in close proximity.
At least six Utahraptor specimens, ranging from juveniles to adults, have emerged from this peculiar block. By looking at these fossils, researchers have noticed that they started out slender and agile, then grew up to be bulky, formidable hunters. Even when the bones are still embedded in the slab, they already show a different side of the animal that we didn’t know before.
It is rare for dinosaurs to be found fossilized together. When it happens, their death usually captures a unique snapshot about their lives. A graveyard of this scale, especially containing such a rare species, is like a treasure trove for paleontologists. In an attempt to grasp the full story of the dinosaurs, the whole nine-ton slab was excavated from the ground and moved to a lab in 2014. Jim Kirkland, the Utah State Paleontologist who gave Utahraptor its name in 1993, claimed it to be the most exciting discovery of his life.
Also trapped between the fossilized predators, were the bones of a herbivorous dinosaur. Was this place a petrified hunting ground? Did they hunt in packs as some movies want us to believe?
By looking at the surrounding rocks, Kirkland hypothesized that the unlucky herbivore found itself sinking in the middle of a quicksand pool. Attracted by the sight of an easy meal, multiple Utahraptors jumped into the scene, leading to their own eventual demise.
An illustration of the scene frozen in time by Julio Lacerda
If correct, this hypothesis explains why the predators, normally thought to be solitary hunters, died huddled together in such a big number.
However, it can only be tested by inspecting the fossils in greater details. For example, if the limbs of the animals are found to be tangled together, it’s a good sign that the animals hunted together. By looking at how much the bones were exposed by the sun, researchers can determine if the raptors all died at once or at different times.
The answer to this mystery may not emerge in the coming years. As powerful as they were in life, the Utahraptor fossils are delicate objects that require time and special skills to prepare.
This big undertaking requires Scott Madsen, a professional fossil preparator, to meticulously chip the block with needles to reveal the bones. Don DeBlieux, Assistant Utah State Paleontologist, will also create a 3D mapping of the block as Scott progresses. This kind of imaging allows researchers to better reconstruct the scene of their death.
Scott Madsen and Don DeBlieux jacketing the block with plaster and burlap, image by The Utahraptor Project
As painstaking as this sounds, their efforts are necessary to restore the world’s largest raptor back to its full glory. To hasten their progress, Jim Kirkland and team have set up an initiative to let enthusiasts be a part in their project. By contributing to the process, we will get to learn the secrets of these fascinating predators within our lifetime.
Learn about how you can help here. Join us in spreading the love on social media using the hashtag #UtahraptorWeek and encourage your friends to check out the project!
100% profits from all sales on Studio 252MYA store will be matched in donation to fund this project until April 30th 2017.
Franz
Anthony
Editor and Artist
