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Dinosaur Bones Of Adult Triceratops Found At Colorado Building Site

Dinosaur Bones Of Adult Triceratops Found At Colorado Building Site

The partial skeleton has now been taken to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for further examination

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Fossilised bones of a large adult triceratops have been found at a construction site in Denver, Colorado, paleontologists have confirmed.

According to The Denver Post, the bones were found by builders at a site near a retirement community in Highlands Ranch several weeks ago and are believed to date as far back as 68 million years ago.

Experts from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science were then brought in to study the collection of bones further, having since confirmed more details about the dinosaur skeleton.

Maura O'Neal, a spokeswoman for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science said on Friday (21 June) that the partial skeleton included a limb bone and several ribs of the three-horned dinosaur.

She also said the bones have now been wrapped in burlap and plaster and taken to the museum for further examination.

The excavation site.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Natalie Toth, the chief fossil preparator for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, told CBS: "A few weeks ago, all of this was just underwater, so it was almost impossible to identify what anything was exactly. But cleaning things off in the lab, we feel confident that it is a triceratops and not only that, it's a pretty big triceratops.

"It's an adult size, the bones we've been working on are pretty massive for the type of animal it is."

She added: "I think initially when we found a few bones scattered we thought, 'Oh, we'll wrap this up in just a couple weeks,' and here we are.

"End of June and we're still finding more bones! Still taking more bones out of the ground!"

The bones have been taken to the museum for further study.
CBS

Dr Tyler Lyson, curator of vertebrate palaeontology at the museum, also said in a written statement: "It's always exciting to get a call about possible fossils, and I can't wait to share more details as we continue to dig."

The bones were found in a rock later that dates back between 65 million and 68 million years.

Construction crews on the site had been using heavy equipment to dig a deep trench in the search for other fossils next to the area where the triceratops bones were found, O'Neal said, adding that there have been 'many' dinosaur skeletons unearthed in Colorado.

According to the museum, of all the dinosaur bones discovered in the state, the remains of triceratops have been among the most common.

Featured Image Credit: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Topics: News, Dinosaurs, US News