Dry Mesa Quarry, Paleontological site in Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado.
The Dry Mesa Quarry contains numerous dinosaur fossils within a sandstone bed measuring 2 meters thick and 121 meters wide in the Morrison Formation.
Excavation efforts commenced in 1972 under James Jensen from Brigham Young University after Daniel and Vivian Jones discovered a large theropod bone in 1971.
The site generated a documentary film named The Great Dinosaur Discovery in 1973, which later aired on television channels across the United States.
Access to the 55-acre quarry requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle during warm weather months, as the road conditions remain challenging throughout the year.
Scientists identified thirty vertebrate genera at this location, including twenty-three dinosaur species, making it one of the most diverse Upper Jurassic assemblages.
Location: Colorado
GPS coordinates: 38.56742,-108.38360
Latest update: April 28, 2025 12:38
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