dinodigger Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Hey Gang, June is upon us; the Houston Museum of Natural Science crew is back at it in our dig site in North Texas. Our middle Permian Queen has been very good to us this year. The only way we can repay our graciously accepted dues and debts is by resurrecting the amazing finbacks and mudpuppies of 287 million years ago. In February I found three new beautiful Dimetrodon skeletons and a ton of interesting stuff. I arrived on site 8 days ago, and have been digging away in 103 degree temps. I've been meaning to get the report going, but being on site at 6 am and digging til 8 pm has us rather sluggish. The coyotes sing there greetings every morning and bid there good evening as we slither away with the snakes and the horny toads. So here it goes. The objective for this trip, which mind you is never achieved promptly on any of our digs, is to remove the 1000 pound jacket that contains the remains of Banana and Uma, the two magnificent Dimetrodon Loomisi specimens. Mixed in with the skeletons is a crapload (geologic term) of bones and teeth from other animals that were either ingested or simply slipped quietly down the embankment of the ancient pond. Upon removing the fifty by thirty foot tarp, we discovered a family of rodents of adorawable mice living under the jacket in the holes we carved out for supports. We began digging around the base of the jacket to continue prepping for removal and, as usual, I found bone underneath. So far we have an IMMENSE scapula with the anterior and posterior coracoid gnawed clean off. That triceps muscle is a favorite amongst the carnivores here. The south side of the dig has produced a handfull of shed DImetrodon and Secodontosaurus teeth. Our quarry is easily the greatest place for Secos... weird. The estivating amphibians in the South East corner number 8 now. Unbelievable. Many have the pre-max missing. I think Dimetrodons are digging, and they do have great digging claws, down to the sleeping amphibians. As they try to pull them from their burrows, some get their noses bitten off. Eeek. The West side of the quarry is producing an INTERESTING chop zone, an area where somebody had been eating. Many many shed teeth and lots of chewed bones of every osteological element. And big bones too. Clavicals, Scaps, skulls. I'm hungry. I'm going to go eat some leftover chili now. I'm also really really really tired. Really tired. Really really really really really really tired. So I'm cutting the update off here. I'll post more tomorro. Enjoy the pics. Chris http://www.flickr.com/photos/45026327@N05/sets/72157633977874127/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Magnificent write up! Sure many are jealous of your work. Sounds like a great site. What are the amphibians? "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" - Saint Augustine"Those who can not see past their own nose deserve our pity more than anything else." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I look forward to this continuing story every year. Great stuff, Chris. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I didn't need to see the centipede (glad I don't down there).. but the rest is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Thanks so much for this continuing account! What snake is pictured? I did not recognize his markings. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 (edited) Nice to hear from you again, Chris. Exciting finds! Thank you, once again, for posting your work with us here. I truly enjoy seeing the way the professional side of paleontology is done. I appreciate your time and effort to bring us this ongoing saga. Regards, Edited June 7, 2013 by Fossildude19 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Just...awesome! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Good to see you are at it again, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thanks to share. Have another great season in the extreme heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Really amazing stuff! thanks for keeping us up to date on progress. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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