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The word "dinosaur" is derived from the Greek words for "terrible lizard." BLM's western and Alaskan lands are among the world's very best outdoor laboratories for studying the fossilized remains of these fascinating creatures, as well as other animal and plant life from hundreds of millions of years ago. Fossilized bones of one of the world's largest known dinosaur species — the 120-foot-long Seismosaurus, or "Earth shaker" — were found on public lands in New Mexico. In fact, many of the fossils you see in Amierica's premier natural history museums were discovered on America's public lands, and new specimens are unearthed every day. The links below will enable you to take a virtual field trip to a dinosaur excavation, communicate with BLM paleontologists, and learn about ancient fossil beds.
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RESOURCES
BLM NATIONAL WEB PAGES
BLM "Share the Adventure! Discovering Dinosaurs"
A virtual field trip to the excavation of a fossil hadrosaur in Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, including a downloadable educator's guide and field trip journal
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_fieldtrip/
BLM Resource Explorer Mike Leschin
Information on BLM geologist Mike Leschin and his work at Utah's Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry National Natural Landmark
http://www.blm.gov/education/expert/4/index.html
BLM "Set in Stone"
Science & Children article dealing with the evolution of the field of paleontology and the importance of fossils; includes classroom activities
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/paleo/article.html
BLM Cultural and Fossil Resources
Information and teacher resources on archaeology and paleontology, including links to historic preservation organizations, professional associations, and cooperating agencies
http://www.blm.gov/heritage/index.htm
STATE AND FIELD OFFICE SITES
BLM-Alaska, "Dinosaurs on Alaska's North Slope"
Information on dinosaurs that once roamed the north slope of Alaska?s Brooks Range and elsewhere in Alaska
http://www.ak.blm.gov/ak930/akdino.html
BLM-Grand Junction, Colorado, Trail Through Time
Information on a hiking trail that includes an active dinosaur quarry and interpretive trail; includes online maps and interpretive brochure on fossils.
http://www.co.blm.gov/mcnca/ttt.htm
BLM-Elko, Nevada, Mineral Hill Cave
Virtual tour of Mineral Hill Cave, including inventory of bones, cave history and current excavations
http://www.nv.blm.gov/Elko/mineralhill.htm
BLM-New Mexico Paleontology on New Mexico Public Lands
Includes "Ask the Paleontologist" feature, paleontological data base, and information on past excavations
http://www.nm.blm.gov/features/blm_paleo/blm_paleo.html
BLM-Utah Environmental Education on the Job--"The Mammoth Alliance"
Description and photos of the discovery and excavation of the remains of an 11,000-year-old Columbian mammoth in southern Utah
http://www.ut.blm.gov/enviroed/enviroedmammoth.html and http://www.blm.gov/education/feature/2000/ut/index.html
BLM-Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Utah) Paleontology Program
Description of the paleontology of the first BLM Monument; includes research guidelines, collecting prohibitions, and an "Ask the Paleontologist" section
http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/Science_and_Research/Paleontology/Paleontology.html
BLM-Price, Utah, Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
Information on one of the richest deposits of dinosaur bones in the nation and ongoing excavation activities
http://www.blm.gov/utah/price/quarry.htm
BLM- Wyoming Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite
Extensive background on the discovery and significance of rare fossil dinosaur footprints on Wyoming public lands; includes maps, slide shows, and a photo gallery -
http://www.wy.blm.gov/rgdt/