Dinosaur bones discovered in Edmonton

A drainage crew hand tunnelling a Quesnell Heights sewer tunnel discovered dinosaur bones last week.

As soon as the discovery was made, the city called in Jack Brink, Curator of Archaeology at the Royal Alberta Museum, who brought Mike Burns, a Ph.D. student in palaeontology from the University of Alberta, to investigate the find.

Burns has determined that the bones are a well preserved tooth of a tyrannosaurid (likely Albertosaurus) and large limb bone elements possibly from the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus.

The crews investigated further underground, where more bones were discovered, including a vertebra and a femur.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum says last week's find is significant for researchers in our province.

“We will work with the U of A palaeontologists to ensure there is someone on site as the material is uncovered so the fossils are preserved without causing any project delays for the city.” says Andrew Neuman, Executive Director of the Royal Tyrrell Museum said in a release. “The City of Edmonton should be commended for doing the right thing - this is a great example of how we can all work together to preserve Alberta’s heritage”.

The bones will be excavated over the next few days, and then they will be transported to the Royal Tyrrell Museum to be examined thoroughly.