Additional Coverage:
Talk about a parking spot with a prehistoric perk! The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has unearthed a dinosaur bone right under its own parking lot. The fossil, believed to be a vertebra from a plant-eating dinosaur like a Thescelosaurus or Edmontosaurus, is estimated to be around 68 million years old.
The discovery was a happy accident. Crews were drilling beneath the parking lot to test the feasibility of a geothermal energy project when they stumbled upon the fossil at a depth of 763 feet.
Geology curator James Hagadorn told ABC News he was stunned, comparing the find to “finding a diamond deposit under the world’s largest gem store.” He added that the fossil is the deepest and oldest ever found within Denver city limits.
This isn’t Colorado’s first surprise fossil find. A Triceratops horn was previously discovered under Coors Field, and numerous fossils have been unearthed at Denver International Airport.
Hagadorn is excited about the potential for further discoveries, emphasizing the scientific value of such finds in understanding ecosystems and the planet’s history. While further excavation under the parking lot is unlikely due to logistical challenges, the museum is thrilled with the current discovery.
The dinosaur vertebra is now on display as part of the museum’s “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibition. Hagadorn hopes the find will remind people of the hidden geological wonders beneath our feet. The museum plans to offer numerous free admission days so everyone can see the fossil.