Galvatim Posted October 4, 2011 Last year, in June, I went on a dinosaur dig, in South Dakota! My brother, my dad, and my dad's little brother from Big Brothers/Big Sisters all went as well. We contracted an organization called Paleo-Adventures to do this. new pics 6-18-10 144 by galvatim, on Flickr The dig site is at the bottom of this ravine. It's a pretty hard spot to get to. A few miles of hilly off-road driving, and going down a steep path. new pics 6-18-10 147 by galvatim, on Flickr The dig site. Sand was blowing everywhere down there! not a safe place for Dollfies, which is why Aoi-chan had to sit this one out. new pics 6-18-10 137 by galvatim, on Flickr The site was once a river bed, so many of the dinosaur bones we found were broken pieces. You might be able to spot some here mixed in with the rocks and sand. There were literary hundreds right there on the surface! On the bottom right of this photo, you can see an ancient mammal jaw bone my brother found! This was of great scientific value, and he was not able to keep it. new pics 6-18-10 139 by galvatim, on Flickr While my dad and I only found common fossils, my brother and my dad's Little found both found T-Rex teeth! Tiny T-Rex teeth! Of course, Tyrannosaur teeth are quite popular on the collectors' market, going for about $100 an inch! So fossils like that we weren't allowed to just take either. I believe my dad spent about $125 to bring home each! dino bone1 by galvatim, on Flickr Our paleontologist guide excavated this giant dinosaur toe bone! Yes, that's me holding it! It's from an Edmontosaurus, I believe. new pics 6-18-10 029 by galvatim, on Flickr We also went to the Black Hills Insistute of South Dakota, easily one of the best dinosaur museums in the world! new pics 6-18-10 039 by galvatim, on Flickr The building was small, but every open spot was packed with fossils or fossil castings! new pics 6-18-10 043 by galvatim, on Flickr My brother next to giant alligator and crocodile skulls! new pics 6-18-10 050 by galvatim, on Flickr The founders of this museum discovered two of the most complete and famous Tyronnosaurus skeletons in the world, Sue and Stan (pictured)! Sue is now at the Chicago museum of Natrual History, although a cast is on display along with Stan. new pics 6-18-10 054 by galvatim, on Flickr Sue also once invaded Tokyo! I hope you enjoyed reading about my little adventure, and feel free to check out my Flickr for more photos, or ask me any questions you have! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baldylox Posted October 5, 2011 AWESOME! I used to love dinosaurs as a kid and I kind of still do. I find them totally interesting and cool. You sure went to a great spot. And you got to go to the Black Hills museum too! I've always wanted to go there. What I don't get is why yall couldn't keep stuff. Are they just using yall for free labor? At least you got to see some cool fossils and even take some home. Lucky! Billy I gave up counting the girls I own, they keep multiplying and won't stop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Galvatim Posted October 5, 2011 AWESOME! I used to love dinosaurs as a kid and I kind of still do. I find them totally interesting and cool. You sure went to a great spot. And you got to go to the Black Hills museum too! I've always wanted to go there. What I don't get is why yall couldn't keep stuff. Are they just using yall for free labor? At least you got to see some cool fossils and even take some home. Lucky! Billy We went all over the place in SD, we saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the badlands, Deadwood, and even out to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. We also visited a number of Cold War related sites, like a Minuteman III Missile silo. The Black Hills Institute and the dig were my favorite parts though. Well, this was with a commercial paleontology group, and part of how they fund themselves is by selling the valuable fossils. The dig was on private property too, so the land owner gets a share of those profits. We each brought home a whole sandwich bag of common fossils, and my dad did buy those T-Rex teeth we found. JC (my dad's Little), had a great time, and is thinking about going into paleontology! My dad has taken him on adventures all over the world, this year they went to Berlin and Istanbul! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikoAkiko23 Posted October 5, 2011 Whoa I'm not big on dinosaurs like my cousin was when he was little but I still do love the T-Rex...it's still my favorite dinosaur xDD and these pics are awesome. What camera did you use? Check out my Flickr account for pics of my random artwork: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikoakiko23/sets/72157627987461066/ Hopefully I should have pics of a first daughter by next year ^^ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Galvatim Posted October 5, 2011 Whoa I'm not big on dinosaurs like my cousin was when he was little but I still do love the T-Rex...it's still my favorite dinosaur xDD and these pics are awesome. What camera did you use? Thanks! The Black Hills Institute is the T-Rex capitol of the world! new pics 6-18-10 033 by galvatim, on Flickr I have a Sony DSC-W370, which I actually bought only a few weeks before my trip. It's only a little point and shoot, but it has this panoramic feature, and also works well in low light. My dad actually bought the same model, so I guess it's a pretty decent model. And "It's a Sony!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikoAkiko23 Posted October 5, 2011 Whoa I'm not big on dinosaurs like my cousin was when he was little but I still do love the T-Rex...it's still my favorite dinosaur xDD and these pics are awesome. What camera did you use? Thanks! The Black Hills Institute is the T-Rex capitol of the world! new pics 6-18-10 033 by galvatim, on Flickr I have a Sony DSC-W370, which I actually bought only a few weeks before my trip. It's only a little point and shoot, but it has this panoramic feature, and also works well in low light. My dad actually bought the same model, so I guess it's a pretty decent model. And "It's a Sony!" Wow the picture quality is amazing especially the first pic you posted...absolutely breathtaking! and that is awesome! I'd love to see more T-Rex skeletons. Check out my Flickr account for pics of my random artwork: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikoakiko23/sets/72157627987461066/ Hopefully I should have pics of a first daughter by next year ^^ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mitsuki Posted October 5, 2011 That is so unbelievably awesome! I especially love all those T-rexes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Galvatim Posted October 5, 2011 Thanks, Mitsuki! It was an incredible experience! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OtakuDepot Posted October 5, 2011 Wow, that is really cool!!! This is exactly what I think the Off-Topic section should be for!!! I loved seeing those pictures - especially your brother near the giant alligator and crocodile skulls!!! I'm in Florida so the idea of seeing something like that out on the golf courses would be something. **James. Otaku Depot's growing family. “Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.” ― Terry Pratchett, Jingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baldylox Posted October 5, 2011 We went all over the place in SD, we saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the badlands, Deadwood, and even out to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. We also visited a number of Cold War related sites, like a Minuteman III Missile silo. The Black Hills Institute and the dig were my favorite parts though. GAH!!!! I HATE YOU NOW! Ok, not really but I'm SUPER jealous! Did you see any UFO's around the Tower? Did you hear silly monotone music? Well, this was with a commercial paleontology group, and part of how they fund themselves is by selling the valuable fossils. The dig was on private property too, so the land owner gets a share of those profits. We each brought home a whole sandwich bag of common fossils, and my dad did buy those T-Rex teeth we found. Ah ok. I have no idea how that stuff works out so that's why I asked. I wasn't trying to sound snotty about it tho, sorry if that came across like that. Good explanation tho and it makes sense. Thanks! JC (my dad's Little), had a great time, and is thinking about going into paleontology! My dad has taken him on adventures all over the world, this year they went to Berlin and Istanbul! Awesome! That's great to be able to spark the younger ones interest like that. And are you sure they went to Istanbul, not Constantinople? Because Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople, been a long time gone Constantinople, now it's Turkish Delight, on a moonlit night. And if you get that reference, you ROCK. Billy I gave up counting the girls I own, they keep multiplying and won't stop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OtakuDepot Posted October 5, 2011 And are you sure they went to Istanbul, not Constantinople? Because Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople, been a long time gone Constantinople, now it's Turkish Delight, on a moonlit night. And if you get that reference, you ROCK. Billy (That's nobody's business but the Turks.....) Otaku Depot's growing family. “Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.” ― Terry Pratchett, Jingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baldylox Posted October 5, 2011 (That's nobody's business but the Turks.....) HAHA! I knew somebody would recognize that! Billy I gave up counting the girls I own, they keep multiplying and won't stop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Galvatim Posted October 5, 2011 Wow, that is really cool!!! This is exactly what I think the Off-Topic section should be for!!! I loved seeing those pictures - especially your brother near the giant alligator and crocodile skulls!!! I'm in Florida so the idea of seeing something like that out on the golf courses would be something. **James. Thanks! Crocs and gators really grew back then! Otherwise, they haven't changed much in the last 65 million years... Sharks too... That Megalodon gives me nightmares... No UFOs or silly music at Devil's Tower, Billy, but we did see a deer and a rattle snake, both from about 10 or 20 feet away. And you don't sound snotty at all, I'm more than happy to answer any questions about this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saluli Posted October 5, 2011 Wow, that was awesome! Must have been fascinating join the excavation. Summon ritual is over. And finally complete. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlebearries Posted October 8, 2011 That is SO awesome! I've always wanted to go on a dino dig! I am envious... so so so envious!!!! I dragged my family to the Field Museum in Chicago to see Sue... I love dino stuff so much!! And yes, I can imagine it wasn't the place for Aoi! It's too bad you guys had to pay for the T-Rex teeth you found though... when you go panning for gold in Alaska or California, you get to keep any real gold you find... I think you should have been able to keep your teeth too, XD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
