Dig Diaries: Unearthing Utah’s Dinosaurs for the BBC (Fraser)

What was it like working on the Utah dig site, and how did it feel knowing it would later be featured in the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs?

The opportunity to work on the Utah bone beds as an undergraduate was extraordinary. Areas which contain such high concentrations of fossil bones are very rare and can offer unique insight into past ecosystems. This site allowed us to engage in active research and put theory learnt from lectures into practice. Each time you uncover a bone you begin to piece together little bits about this animal which has been unseen for millions of years; there is something quite magical about that. The BBC really captured this and some of the ways in which we take observations and interpret what has happened here. For me, getting to see people talk about the work being done was a good opportunity to be able to share the kind of work we do at university with the public.

Can you describe a typical day at the dig site and any exciting discoveries or moments that stood out to you?

During our time working at the site we would travel from Green River and would get to the site around mid-morning. This gave us masses of time to work on many different objectives. Personally, I spent a lot of time examining the way the bones had been laid down and the underlying and overlying geological sequence, whilst focusing on the excavation of a series of vertebrae (the bones that make up the spine). Two moments stood out to me during my time at the site. Firstly, near the end of my first day, Dr Lively, the site organiser and curator at the museum in Price, walked with me up the nearby hill and discussed the geological sequence. This meant a lot to me as it not only helped me add context to the events that led to the concentration of these bones but also gave me a chance to talk to a palaeontologist working on active field research. Secondly, on our final day, some of the other students had uncovered a much larger rib than the ones we would expect to see from these ankylosaurs. I was able to stay later at the site and help remove and prepare this bone for transport, which was a truly amazing opportunity.

How did this fieldwork opportunity enhance your understanding of palaeontology and your academic journey?

It is very unique for an undergraduate course to offer such a research-focussed and important fieldwork opportunity such as the Utah fieldwork at Birmingham; working with a team of world-leading researchers from the University, Museum in Price, and the Natural History Museum allows students to get the best chance to learn about vertebrate palaeontology. The United States is one of very few places in the world with such a rich history of dinosaur discovery and the chance to participate in excavating these animals directly. This site in particular helps us understand more about sedimentology and variable systems seen in the rock record. From this opportunity I’ve been able to work with Prof. Susie Maidment and Dr Imran Rahman at the Natural History Museum to investigate how bones are transported to form these mass bone beds using computational fluid dynamics.

What skills did you gain from the dig that you think will benefit you in the future?

These skills are an essential part of any palaeontologist’s tool kit, not just working on vertebrates. Being able to observe sedimentological and taphonomic patterns and make interpretations about the events that transpired are applicable to all types of geology. In future, I hope to go on to do further research in academia through a PhD, and being able to correctly identify these patterns and uncover, preserve, and label fossils will be essential to this work. This style of fieldwork also enhanced my ability to work as part of a research team by sharing theories and having discussions with other students, which would often lead us to testing each other to improve our ideas. It also definitely improved my ability to work in warm weather and judge how much sun cream a palaeontologist needs!

What advice would you give to future students who are considering studying Palaeontology at Birmingham?

For anyone interested in how the life and ecosystems on our planet evolved and how the earth changed through geological history. Apply! Birmingham has some of the best opportunities that you’ll find anywhere not only for palaeontology but also for living and sports. My time especially during this third-year field course has been nothing short of brilliant. There are very few courses where you have as much freedom to pursue your interests with staff who truly support new ideas and help you actualise them to the best of their abilities.