Watch fossil preparators work on a huge leg bone from of one the Eromanga dinosaurs.
To find out more http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/calendar/2010/i_dig_dinos/
In 1998, Dr Paul Sereno (Palaeontologist, University of Chicago, USA) along with student, Jonathan Marcot, Dr Ralph Molnar (Curator, Geosciences, Queensland Museum) and Joanne Wilkinson (Technician, Queensland Museum) visited Plevna Downs. They were searching for Cretaceous vertebrate fossil material – nothing was found at this time.
In 2004, the first piece of dinosaur bone was discovered at Plevna Downs by 14 year old Sandy Mackenzie (Jnr) marking the first discovery of dinosaur evidence in South-western Queensland.
In 2005, the ‘Cooper’ & ‘George’ sites were discovered. Since then many other dinosaur and fossil fauna sites have been identified.
In 2007, at the Queensland Museum, an official Government announcement by the Honourable Rod Welford, Minister for Arts and Education, revealed the discoveries of ‘Cooper’ and George’. Scott Hocknull (Curator/Palaeontologist, Geosciences, Queensland Museum) confirmed these dinosaurs to be two massive Titanosaurs – and Australia’s largest dinosaurs discovered to-date.*
The Eromanga Dinosaur Project’s two week dinosaur dig at ‘Cooper’s’ site has been completed for 2008. Many new dinosaur bones were unearthed adding to the already impressive collection from this site
Excavations at Cooper’s site are continuing each year. This site has still to be fully excavated and has proven to be an extremely rich fossil deposit. Preparation and storage of the bones is carried out in a Field Station and Dinosaur Preparation Laboratory about 35kms away from Cooper’s site.
All the field and laboratory work on 'Cooper' has been done by volunteers, with help and support from the Queensland Museum and OGF’s sponsors.
*as represented by bone.
Queensland Museum: http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/dinosaurs/queensland/giants.asp