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Marmarth Research Foundation: In the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota

Marmarth Research Foundation: In the Hell Creek formation of North Dakota

Tenontosaurus
Cloverly Formation

Tenontosaurus

<em>Triceratops</em> femur

Triceratops femur
Triceratops
2007

An excellent practical exposure to how paleontology is 'done.' The whole spectrum is available, from prospecting, through extraction and retrieval to preparation of fossils for exhibition - including making casts and molds.

John Akerley
Retired engineer

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Turtle Ridge

Photos of the turtle ridge excavation

Dorsal view of a large Trionychid skull
A beautifully preserved Trionychid skull that was over 18 cm long was collected at the Turtle Ridge.
Trionychid skull (bottom)
The bottom of a large Trionychid skull.
Prepared Trionychid skull
The 23 cm long Trionychid skull after Barb prepared it.
Turtle Ridge excavation
Here is one of four places along the Turtle Ridge MRF volunteers excavated in 2007. Ten shells and other postcranial material was collected here.
Log
Lignified logs provide clues for the direction of flow for the ancient stream channels.
A pile of turtles
Stygiochelys shell after shell was uncovered at one of the sites along the Turtle Ridge.
In situ Trionychid skull
A large trionychid skull prior to its removal.
John Akerley leads the volunteers to a new locality
Volunteer John Akerley has participated with the MRF since 2004.
Complete Stygiochelys skeleton
Numerous complete Stygiochelys skeletons have been collected from the Turtle Ridge.
Tyler, Franklin, and six turtles
Tyler Lyson and his dog Franklin sit on a jacket containing six Stygiochelys skeletons prior to its removal.
Large field jacket
A stretcher was made out of the large jacket so it could be carried out of the drainage and loaded into the back of an ATV.
The crew
The crew after loading a very heavy jacket containing six Stygiochelys skeletons into the back of an ATV.
Trionychid skull
Lateral view of a large Trionychid skull (Axestemys?)
Turtle after turtle
MRF volunteers uncovered over 30 Stygiochelys shells along the Turtle Ridge in 2007.
Stygiochelys hand
A perfectly preserved hand was uncovered during the preparation of the large field jacket containing six partial Stygiochelys skeletons.
Trionychid skull
This beautifully preserved skull was collected along the Turtle Ridge. It may belong to Axestemys.
Tyler's "road"
Tyler scouts out a "road" for the ATV carrying a large field jacket containing six Stygiochelys skeletons
Stygiochelys skull
A large baenid turtle skull.
Preparation
The jacket containing six Stygiochelys skeletons was opened as soon as it was collected from the field.
In situ Stygiochelys shell
Each fragment is photographed and mapped before its removal.
What a tail!!
This Stygiochelys individual had a tail that was just under 80 cm long!!