World Report: October 3, 1997 Vol.3 No.4
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Dinosaur Tug-of-War
When Louis Tremblay spotted bits of bone on the Montana soil in July, he recalled a basic rule of scientific discovery: follow the trail. That maxim really paid off. The little bones led to bigger bones. And bigger bones. Tremblay was on the trail of a huge meat-eating dinosaur--a Tyrannosaurus rex--or maybe something bigger!
The discovery in Montana has thrilled scientists. But it has also started a new battle in an ongoing war over who owns dinosaur bones.
The Find Of A Lifetime
Eastern Montana and parts of neighboring states make up an area of dry, fossil-rich land known as the badlands. For several years, paleontologist (pale-ee-on-tol-o-jist) Keith Rigby has been hunting for fossils in the badlands with a team of volunteers.
This summer the Walton family of Montana let Rigby and his team dig on their ranch. Tremblay, a science teacher and volunteer, was exploring the area in early July when he found part of the fossil. "Here's where we dig!" he shouted.
As the Walton family watched, the fossil hunters found more and more of the skeleton. It looked like a T. rex, but the hipbones were four inches bigger than any known T. rex. Either it's a huge T. rex or a new kind of tyrannosaur, says Rigby. "What we do know is that it's the largest carnivore on the planet," he says.
Rigby wanted to keep the find a secret until his team could remove most of the fossil. As summer ended, they covered the bones and planned to finish the dig in 1998. But in mid-September, after Rigby had left the site, he heard disturbing news: the Waltons themselves were digging up the bones! Even worse, they were using a tractor, which could harm the precious fossil bed.
Rigby was stunned. "We feel betrayed. They showed disregard for everything we tried to teach them," he says.
Science For Sale
Why did the Waltons suddenly decide to dig up the dinosaur? Most likely, the family had learned the value of dinosaur bones. Fossil collecting is very popular, and some folks pay fortunes for rare specimens. By law, U.S. citizens can keep or sell what they find on their own property.
The craze for fossils has scientists and museums worried. If everyone is buying and selling fossils, precious bones might end up in the wrong hands. Researchers might lose the opportunity to study important finds. "Dinosaur bones belong to science," insists Jack Horner, a famous Montana paleontologist.
This week scientists are concerned about the fate of a dinosaur fossil called Sue. Named for Susan Hendrickson, who discovered it in the high prairie of South Dakota in 1990, Sue is the most complete T. rex ever found. But because of a fight over ownership, Sue has remained in pieces, locked up in a warehouse.
Paleontologists are eager to study the fossil. Was Sue male or female? How did this T. rex get bite wounds on its skull, teeth stuck in its ribs and a broken leg? The skeleton offers new clues about dinosaur life and death.
But scientists may never get the chance to learn more. On October 4, the T. rex is to be auctioned off in New York City. Sue will be sold to whoever offers the most money. Experts predict a price of more than $1 million. Says David Redden, who organized the auction for the company Sotheby's: "The sale will probably last five minutes or less."
Who Owns The Bones?
Last week scientists could only hope that Sue's bones would end up someplace where they can be studied and appreciated. The auction house is offering a special payment plan to American museums. But anyone with enough money can buy the T. rex.
The future of the giant dinosaur that Tremblay stumbled upon in July is more certain. It turns out that the land that holds the bones actually belongs to the U.S. government, instead of the Waltons. Rigby, and not the Waltons, can dig up the dinosaur.
Rigby, Tremblay and others are now back at the site. They will have to work fast to complete the dig before the ground freezes. Then the bones will be cleaned and studied before they are assembled in a Montana museum. Says Rigby: "I'm relieved this beast will be saved for millions of kids to see in the future."
