Possible Oldest Mosasaur Bone in North America Donated to SMU

[GPayton]

I already wrote about in a previous trip report back in September, but I thought it worth posting here as well (I'll link the original trip report below). I'm proud to say that as of last October I was able to donate my first fossil to science - a life-long goal of mine since I was a kid! The mosasaur vertebra I found has the potential to be one of the oldest known to science, or at the very least one of the oldest found in North America. I donated it to SMU's collection after correspondence with Dr. Mike Polcyn as it only seemed right that one of the leading experts on early mosasaurs should have it. Alongside the vertebra I also donated two Ptychodus teeth found within the same shale layer to assist in the dating process.

 

Basal Mosasaurid (anterior caudal vertebra)

Upper Cretaceous (Middle Cenomanian) Lake Waco Formation

Central Texas - found on September 15, 2022

Donated October 14, 2022 to Southern Methodist University

 

 

 

 

 

 

^ @Jared C and I recently returned to the site to collect unweathered bentonite to assist in the dating process. I haven't taken the several bags we filled up to SMU to deliver to Dr. Polcyn yet but plan to do so soon. 

 

[connorp]

Congrats! Very cool.

[PFOOLEY]

Well, that is a pretty important find...congratulations on an excellent discovery and your contribution.  Very cool.

[FossilDAWG]

Don