The Denver Museum of Nature and Science made headlines this week for unearthing what some are calling a rare prehistoric treasure, a dinosaur fossil, during a geothermal energy survey in its parking lot.
While boring 763 feet underground to test green energy potential, scientists pulled up a 5-centimeter-wide core containing what they believe is a dinosaur vertebra. Museum geologist James Hagadorn called the discovery “super rare,” adding, “Finding a dinosaur bone in a core is like hitting a hole in one from the moon.”
But not everyone is impressed. Thomas Williamson, curator of paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, summed it up: “Scientifically it’s not that exciting.”
Patrick O’Connor, another curator at the Denver museum, admitted, “This animal was living in what was probably a swampy environment,” but the museum also acknowledged the obvious: “We really need parking,” Hagadorn said, dismissing any plans to excavate the rest.
The dinosaur fossil, possibly from a small plant-eater from 67.5 million years ago, according to researchers, is now on display—but its actual value appears more PR related than scientific.
