72 million-year-old giant dinosaur skull weighing 600 pounds discovered

Recently, an exciting discovery emerged from “one of the densest dinosaur beds in North America:” a dinosaur skull weighing 600 pounds (272 kg) has been unearthed.

Last week, paleontologists transported this 72-million-year-old fossil, securely covered in plaster, from Alberta’s badlands to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, marking a significant addition to the museum’s collection.

As the second adult specimen recovered from this rich deposit of dinosaur bones, it belonged to the Pachyrhinosaurus, a relative of the Triceratops, famously remembered as Sarah from the classic dinosaur animated feature The Land Before Time.

They don’t have a horn like their cousin, but rather “a big bony bump called a boss” on their noses as well as over their eyes, Emily Bamforth, a paleontologist from the museum, said. “It makes them look a little strange. It’s the one dinosaur that if you find it, it’s the only possible thing it can be.”

They named it “Big Sam,” a nod to this “smaller, older cousin” of the beloved cartoon character, given its status as the largest example of its kind unearthed in the Grand Prairie area of the Badlands.

“I have extracted skulls in the past. This is probably the biggest one I’ve ever done though,” Bamforth said. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Being a species unique to Alberta, Canada, this discovery further highlights the region’s exceptional paleontological significance, showcasing its potential as a treasure trove of prehistoric fossils, which has only recently begun to be explored.

One of the most important sites in paleontology was found by accident

As reported by The Canadian Press , these herbivores, comparable in size to Indian elephants and rhinos, roamed Alberta’s badlands approximately 70 million years ago. Emily Bamforth emphasized the uniqueness of this phenomenon, stating that such a site is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

While only two adult skulls have been recovered so far, evidence suggests a herd of 300 Pachyrhinosaurus perished together at this location under mysterious circumstances. Bamforth told BBC that a catastrophic event, possibly a flood, is suspected to have caused their tragic end , leaving behind an extraordinary legacy for paleontologists to explore.

She noted that the skull was discovered upside down, “as if the animal was lying on its back,” but remarkably well-preserved.

The site was first discovered by a high school teacher 50 years ago, but it remained largely unexplored for another decade. Paleontology was in its infancy in Northern Alberta during the 70s and 80s, and this discovery would prove to be a game-changer for the field. With an astonishing density of 100 to 300 bones per square meter, it stands as “one of the densest dinosaur bonebeds in North America.”

An unusual snapshot of prehistory

In addition to turtles, dinosaurs , and lizards, researchers unearthed the first skull from this site 16 years ago, which is currently exhibited at the museum. They recently shared the meticulous process involved in safely extracting another dinosaur fossil.

The process begins by carefully digging around the specimen and securing it with wooden planks, as per The Canadian Press . A thick plaster shell is then created to protect the fossil during removal. Cracking this shell is a tense moment, as it’s a delicate procedure prone to accidents. Fortunately, they were successful in this instance.

Weighing in at 600 pounds, the massive skull required wheels to be transported from the excavation site to the vehicle, as shown on BBC .

But it’s only the beginning. Hundreds of Pachyrhinosaurus are still buried under this patch of Earth, so who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll be able to gain a vivid glimpse into the lives of these prehistoric creatures.