The discovery:
Paleontological events are based on theory and evidence is required to prove that an event actually occurred. Today, the event that occurred sixty-six million years ago at the Yucatan peninsula has been proven through scientific research based on core samples at the impact site and iridium analyses in the K-Pg boundary that was observed over much of the world. For years paleontologists hunted for additional evidence of that occurrence, without success. Computer modeling had shown the effects of the impact. These results included a rain of a totally different kind - rain that included solidified molten glass particles called micro-tektites. In 2012, a brilliant young, sometimes unorthodox, paleontologist was handed what could very likely be a paleontological “holy grail”... actual confirmation for the impact event that killed the dinosaurs. In North Dakota, in a formation, known as Hell Creek, a very special fossil site was found. It is very rare to find whole fish in Hell Creek, let alone specimens with 3-dimensional preservation. To the amazement of this paleontologist, he also started found micro-tektites by the millions. As he continued excavating, he started to find incredibly preserved delicate fossils of all kinds. Not only fish but trees, bones, eggs, teeth, fresh water fish, and marine based fossils. It was a jumble of everything and anything you could think of. In the lab, he found micro-tektites in the gills of the fish. What did all this tell us? It was evidence of an event that included a great flood and seismic sloshing. This event occurred throughout the Western Interior Seaway of North America very near to the time of the K-Pg extinction event. Researchers will be studying these fossils and their related evidence for decades. To learn more about this discovery go to the New Yorker at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-died and the National Geographic at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/03/fossils-found-from-day-dinosaurs-died-chicxulub-tanis-cretaceous-extinction/.
Now the rest of the story:
The year is 2002 and in the Hell Creek formation of North Dakota, a fossil prospecting company, its team members, and its guests are prospecting a ranch which they had been going to on and off for 25 years. The lead guide came upon ceratopsian bones and documents the locality. Because of poor timing, the site remained untouched until 2008. Upon returning to the site, a sturgeon skull with remarkable ornamentation was found by one of the team members. The site was first to be known as the “Fish Site” and later called “Tanis”. Sites are giving names to make them easily referenced.
After evaluating the site further, it was decided to remove two large sections of matrix. This was done in 2009 by a large group of which included students from Gainesville State College. The matrix was encased in a plaster-like matrix. In this case, the jacket consisted of a fiberglass mat dipped in White Hydrocal (a form of plaster like cement). The team dug around the matrix forming a ditch and then undercut the matrix forming a pedestal. Once the matrix top and sides were jacketed, the pedestal was cut and the underside was jacketed. Jacketed fossils usually don’t get opened until the prospecting season comes to a close. In the high desert like that of the Dakotas, the season can end in early fall. Only then was the importance of a site actually determined. What was found was almost like opening a can of sardines, with mummified fish stacked side by side like cords of wood. In 2010, both jackets were delivered to Dr. Lance Grande, Curator, Fossil Fishes of the Field Museum in Chicago.
In 2010, a large excavation team which included Gainesville State students returned to the site and attempted to remove another piece of jacketed matrix. A smaller jacket was eventually sent to the Denver Museum of Natural History. So, who were these forgotten Paleontologists? None other than our own Rob Sula, former First Vice-President of ESCONI, who initially found the first fossils at the site in 2002 and Paleo Prospectors owner Doctor Steve Nicklas. Dr. Steve Nicklas found the first articulated sturgeon and determined the fossil producing layer. In 2012, Paleo Prospectors made a hand shake agreement to offer the site to Robert De Palma who previously worked a fossil fish site in the Hell Creek.
Documents relating to this site reflect Robert’s opinion about for-profit prospecting companies. Paleo Prospectors don’t fully fit in his paleontological worldview. They have donated over 20 dinosaur and mosasaur skeleton specimens to grade schools, high schools, colleges, and other institutions. They have also donated hundreds of fossils to various institutions including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and The Field Museum of Natural History of Chicago. Crucial to this story, Paleo Prospectors has arraigned full access for professional paleontologists to other important sites that they discovered. One example being the “Licking Leaf Site”, which was offered to Kirk Johnson what was at the time Director of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Kirk is now the Director of the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum. Kirk and his students worked that site for many years. Hundreds of specimens were collected and numerous new species of plants were discovered. The following are example of two of the specimens that were donated to Hillsdale College.
I have been a guest of Paleo Prospectors for several years now and have seen the site. Every site has boundaries and rules are defined and pointed out before we ever get to step onto a site. Rules like “don’t go beyond that fence it is not the ranches land, BLM land is there (Bureau of Land Management, does not allow vertebrate fossil collecting), and don’t go near it or across it because this site is closed for academic research due to its significance”. When I learned that the site Robert De Palma was referring to was the same site discovered by Steve and his team, with no acknowledgement, just misrepresentation, I had to speak out and let “The Truth” be known. It’s sad to say that all fields have a good side and a bad side. Well done, Paleo Prospectors, you did the right thing, made an incredible contribution to science possible, and I hope more people know that now.
Lesson Learned:
In the past, a hand shake was a person’s bond. What was said and agreed to was an unwritten contract. I too have had the disappointment that a hand shake-based contract would not come
to fruition. Today to get the recognition due, we must get all agreements in writing and take pictures of the item(s) donated or exchanged. Sad to say, we must protect the honor of ours words with physical evidence in any agreement.
Conclusion:
In life, we always have at least 3 truths; “His Truth”, “Their Truth” and “The Truth”. It is the obligation and responsibility of true science and the true scientist to support without personal bias “The Truth”. Without cooperation and collaboration of the academic paleontologists, the discoveries of paleontological businessman and amateur paleontologists will never come to light. Personal bias in science is bad science. All we want as contributors to science is recognition due for our contributions. I hope some day I will be one of those making such a contribution!
