The Denver Museum of Nature & Science unearthed a 70 million-year-old dinosaur fossil beneath its own parking lot—the oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within the city limits of Denver. The discovery came during a geothermal drilling test that reached depths of over 750 feet, aiming to explore the potential for geothermal heating and to conduct scientific coring research on the geology of the Denver Basin.
The fossil bone was extracted from a depth of approximately 763 feet (233 meters), making it not only the oldest but also the deepest dinosaur fossil found in Denver. Bob Raynolds, an Earth sciences research associate at the museum, expressed his astonishment at the find. "In my 35 years at the museum, we've never had an opportunity quite like this—to study the deep geologic layers beneath our feet with such precision," he said, according to Phys.org. "That this fossil turned up here, in City Park, is nothing short of magical."
The fossil is believed to be a vertebra from a small, plant-eating dinosaur similar to a Thescelosaurus or Edmontosaurus, which roamed the region during the late Cretaceous period around 67.5 million years ago. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the ecosystem that existed right before the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which is widely believed to have been caused by an asteroid impact approximately 66 million years ago.
James Hagadorn, the museum's curator of geology, described the find as "scientifically and historically thrilling." He likened the odds of discovering a dinosaur bone in a core sample to "winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning on the same day," according to Phys.org. "Finding a dinosaur bone in a core is like hitting a hole in one from the moon. It's like winning the Willy Wonka factory. It's incredible, it's super rare," he added.
Museum officials noted that such discoveries in bore-hole samples are extraordinarily rare, with only two similar finds recorded anywhere in the world. That it happened beneath the grounds of a dinosaur museum makes it an even more extraordinary occurrence. "That the fossil appears here is pure magic," Raynolds remarked.
The drilling project also uncovered fossilized vegetation near the location where the bone was found, providing additional context to the dinosaur's habitat. During the late Cretaceous, the area that is now Denver was vastly different, characterized by swampy lowland floodplains and tropical rainforests. "The layers of this core change from the areas outside of a river to a swamp, and then to a pond, and the dinosaur bone is right on the edge of that pond," said Hagadorn to KUSA, according to Smithsonian Magazine. "Was that dinosaur drinking water out of that pond or munching on plants nearby? It's just something cool to imagine."
Despite Denver's rich history of dinosaur discoveries—including portions of Tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops fossils unearthed during various construction projects—the latest fossil stands out due to the depth at which it was found and the unique circumstances of its discovery. Other finds in the area include the partial skeleton of a Triceratops discovered in Highlands Ranch in 2019 and bone fragments found during the construction of Coors Field in 1994.
The fossil is now on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, allowing visitors to connect with a piece of the city's ancient past. "As far as I know, [this is] the only dinosaur bone from a core in the world that you can go see," Hagadorn told KUSA. The museum, renowned for its extensive dinosaur exhibits—including full-size skeletons of prehistoric giants like Diplodocus and Stegosaurus—continues to be a hub for paleontological research and education.
As for the possibility of uncovering more fossils beneath the parking lot, Hagadorn noted the practical limitations. "I would love to dig a 763-foot (233-meter) hole in the parking lot to excavate that dinosaur, the rest of it. But I don't think that's going to fly because we really need parking," he said with a chuckle.
The discovery underscores the rich paleontological tapestry of the Denver area and hints at the untapped potential lying beneath the city's surface. "This area is rich in fossils as well as untapped underground geology. More discoveries await," Hagadorn told Westword's Kristen Fiore, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
While the museum explores the feasibility of geothermal energy, the accidental unearthing of the fossil already contributed invaluable information to the scientific community. The core sample and the dinosaur bone found within offer a brief window into what Denver was like millions of years ago, providing insights into the climate, environment, and organisms of that era.
"Finding a fossil like this right here at the museum is scientifically and historically thrilling," Hagadorn reflected. "It connects us directly to the deep past of this region and inspires us to continue exploring and learning more about the world beneath our feet."
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.