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How to Search for Dinosaur Bones

Ever since Mary Ann Mantell discovered Iguanadon while taking an afternoon stroll in 1822, finding dinosaur skeletons has involved a great deal of luck. However, this doesn't mean that searching for bones is a worthless endeavor. As long as you avoid areas where dinosaurs did not live, such as the Midwest, and take certain measures to improve the likelihood of finding something, there is a small chance that you will come across a fossilized dinosaur.

Instructions

- 1
  Visit a location that features exposed sedimentary rocks formed during the Triassic, Jurassic or Cretaceous periods. The badlands or deserts of Montana and Utah are ideal sites to search for fossils.
- 2
  Walk the area extensively, looking at the rocks. Searching immediately after a rainstorm is ideal, since this can expose otherwise hidden bones. Fossils resemble unfossilized bone in shape, but may differ in color and texture. Always ask permission before walking on private land.
- 3
  Find out whether you're allowed to excavate the fossils, if you're lucky enough to find some. Use a shovel or pick to clear away the surrounding rock, switching to an awl or brush when you get close to the bones. If the skeleton appears to be a large one, notify the local authorities and allow a professional team to finish the excavation.

Rocks & Minerals