A 12 -year -old had the rare opportunity to try closely what it would be like to work on his dream job when discovering the bones of a 69 million dinosaur.
Nathan Hrushkin He was taking a walk with his father in Alberta, Canada, when he came across something surprising. According to, the boy called his father as soon as he noticed in a structure similar to a large fossil leaving the ground.
“The first thing I said was, ‘Dad, you have to come here,” recalls Hrushkin. “My father said he realized, by the tone of my voice, that I had found something really good.”
Baturing that it was something important, but still uncertain, father and son sent a photograph of the discovery to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. The museum confirmed the suspicions. It was, in fact, a True dinosaur bone. Was identified as belonging to a Hadrossauro – Known as ““.
Museum experts traveled to the Horseshoe Canyon area, where the discovery was made to analyze the fossil closely. The area is part of the Nodwell property, under the management of the conservation of the nature of Canada (NCC) that confirmed the discovery of Hrushkin.
“The discovery of this dinosaur in a place of conservation demonstrates the Importance of preserving natural spaces“The NCC wrote in a statement, published months after the excavation in July 2020.” Not only to ensure the conservation of wildlife for future generations, but also as an opportunity to learn about our natural heritage. “
Based on the first analyzes, the researchers concluded that the Dinosaur would be between three and four years old. Although the Hadrosaurs are one of the most consistent fossils in the Badlands of Alberta, Juvenile copies are extremely rare.
“These animals were probably the most common in Alberta at the end of the Cretaceous period – As common as the deer are nowadays, ”he said François TherrienMuseum paleontologist.
Another interesting detail It is that the fossil was found in a rock layer of 69 million years – a geological level where, according to the NCC, fossil discoveries are very scarce. The experience of finding a true dinosaur fossil was a Dream made reality to Nathan Hrushkin.
“For me it’s just amazing, because Dream to be paleontologist Since I remember, ”said the young enthusiast.
According to the NCC, the geological constitution of the property represents a period between the 71 and 68 million years agoreflected in layers of volcanic ash, sandstones, clays and prehistoric fossils.
Nathan’s discovery becomes even more impressive, considering the fossil rarity of that time.
“[Os restos do dinossauro vêm] from a layer in Alberta where there is not much fossil information, ”he explained Dio HrushkinNathan’s father. “That’s why they were so enthusiastic about the excavation – Fills a gap in scientific knowledge“.
After the recovery of the fossil, which was part of the Hadrossauro arm, the investigators found between 30 and 50 bones on the wall of canyonall belonging to the same dinosaur.
The fossils were carefully protected with searphe and plaster enclosures and transported to the museum laboratory for more detailed analysis.
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Both the father and the son expect one day to see the dinosaur they helped to discover on display in a museum.
Teresa Oliveira Campos, Zap //
