In a remarkable discovery, paleontologists and volunteers at Maryland’s Dinosaur Park have uncovered a “bone bed” containing rare dinosaur fossils, including the largest theropod fossil in eastern North America. This significant find marks the first bone bed discovered in Maryland since 1887. The bone bed, characterized by a concentration of bones from one or more species within a single geologic layer, was unearthed earlier this year during a dig experience where members of the public could participate and assist the park’s staff. Dinosaur fossils are exceptionally rare in the eastern United States, making this discovery a valuable contribution to paleontological research.
The large theropod fossil, initially identified by paleontologist JP Hodnett, was classified as a 3-foot-long shin bone, belonging to the branch of dinosaur species that includes the famous carnivorous Tyrannosaurus rex. Hodnett hypothesized that the fossil originated from an Acrocanthosaurus, the largest theropod in the Early Cretaceous period, estimated to measure 38 feet long. The finding aligns with the park’s typical fossil discoveries from the Early Cretaceous period, with previous Acrocanthosaurus teeth having been found there. Excitement among paleontologists stems from the bone bed’s potential to offer valuable insights into ancient environments and provide additional details about extinct animals that were previously known only from a few specimens.
Among the remarkable fossils recovered from the bone bed at Dinosaur Park was a 4-foot limb bone preserved in ironstone, belonging to a yet-unidentified large dinosaur. Additionally, parts of a Priconodon, a large armored dinosaur, were found, along with fossils of a Sauropod—a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur—estimated to have measured an impressive 60 to 70 feet in length. The discovery also included a small tyrannosaur tooth and the oldest stingray fossil ever found in North America. Once excavated from the dig site, these precious fossils will undergo cleaning, examination, and cataloging in the museum system operated by Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation. University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas Holtz emphasizes the historical significance of the site, as it offers crucial insights into the diversity of animals and plants during a critical period in Earth’s history.
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