Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Dinosaurs and Dead Bodies


Out in the middle of the desert, about 10 miles northwest of Hanksville, UT is the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry. It's only open for a few weeks each year while they dig for 150 million-year-old bones.



We happened to hit it just right. Look for this sign, and a broken stop sign, on Hwy 24 west of Hanksville. They told us they would actually be here through the 23rd if you happen to be going by.


These are the dinosaurs they have found, from smallest to largest - Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Camarasaurus, Apatosaurus, and Diplodocus, the biggest at 90-feet long.


They carefully dig around the bones they find -


Then put a cast around the top, before flipping it over and casting the other side. This is a gigantic femur bone.


Off the same dirt road is the Mars Society Desert Research Station. The purpose of the Mars Society is to further the exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. That's what it said on the internet anyway.


Back on Hwy 24 was this guy pointing out the turnoff to the ghost town of Giles.


I couldn't resist - he was really cute!


There wasn't much left of the ghost town -


Except for this potato digger, which was in pretty good shape.
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14 comments:

  1. Jeannie and EldyJune 19, 2012 at 6:50 AM

    Wonderful that you were able to see them actually working and digging! Enjoyed your photos today, as always.

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  2. Jim and SandieJune 19, 2012 at 6:58 AM

    My kind of guy!! I was hoping there might be somebody at the Mars place and could explain "why?"

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  3. Travels with EmmaJune 19, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    I wouldn't even have known that was a potato digger. :)

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  4. UnknownJune 19, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    "..settlement of the planet Mars?" Hmmmm.....

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  5. BarbJune 19, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    Interesting, my grandsons, 7 years old, would have loved to see the dinosaur digging.

    Only you would know that was a rusted old potato digger! :)

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  6. ErinJune 19, 2012 at 10:33 AM

    To see an active dig would be really neat.

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  7. KimbopoloJune 19, 2012 at 11:12 AM

    Fascinating!

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  8. DianaJune 19, 2012 at 3:15 PM

    Don't give me too much credit - it said "Potato digger" on the side of it...

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  9. Debra DickinsonJune 19, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    You find THE most fascinating places and things. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  10. SherryJune 19, 2012 at 5:37 PM

    Nice variety there with the Ancient, the future (or is that the crazies), and the population of one. Looks like a great day!

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  11. Paul and Marti DahlJune 19, 2012 at 6:28 PM

    Nice to see somebody still gainfully employed at the ghost town.

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  12. Barbara and RonJune 19, 2012 at 6:58 PM

    That is really interesting and lucky. Although those dinosaurs look pretty small. HA

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  13. GaelynJune 19, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    You find some obscure places in your travels. Watch out for cute cowboys.

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  14. SondraJune 20, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    HOW cool...I'd love to dig up a bone...The only left in that ghost town are the ghosts I reckon!!

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