2010 Excavation Sessions
    
 

Unlike other field trips on the market today, you will be able to keep almost everything that you find (up to a maximum of $4,000.00). Only individual bones valued at over $1,500.00 and articulated bones are excluded. In all cases, however, if you cannot keep your find, you will receive a finders fee of three percent after the final sale of the object. In most cases each participant finds several hundred bone fragments, ten or so mostly complete bones and an occasional tooth and claw.

As a result of the high number of requests for information for our upcoming field season, we have structured our time in the field to accommodate as many participants as possible without a reduction in the quality of the experience. In order to achieve this goal we will be in the field for six separate, week-long sessions:

        
   

Mr. Sula's Femur (large Edmontosaurus)

  • Session #1. The week of June 6th to June 12th - Wyoming
  • Session #2. The week of June 13th to June 19th - Wyoming
  • Session #3. The week of June 20th to June 26th - North Dakota 
  • Session #4. Staff only - The week of June 27th to July 3rd
  • Session #5. The week of July 4th to July 10th - North Dakota
  • Session #6. The week of July 11th to July 17th - South Dakota
  • Session #7. The week of July 18th to July 24th - South Dakota

(See detail descriptions below)

Each session will be limited to the first 15 applicants. Sessions will be booked upon our receipt of your confirmation, waiver and deposit. The ranches will be divided into collecting zones, one for each session so that everyone will have the opportunity to collect fossils from prime areas.

Please note that ALL participants who fly in for their trip will be required to rent a vehicle and get themselves back and forth from the airport, with the exception of students enrolled for college credit. Individuals who use their vehicle to get back and forth from the collecting areas will receive a $300.00 discount. After arrival and check in on Sunday, collection will begin on the first Monday morning of each session and end each Friday evening. Wake up call will be at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00 and we will leave for the field by 8:15 AM. Lunch will be provided in the field and we will return each evening in time for dinner.

 

Detail Session Information:

Sessions #1 and 2 

 

During Sessions #1 and 2 we will be located in Newcastle, Wyoming. The collection ranch is located about 25 miles to the southwest of town and is in the Lance Creek Formation. It has very well preserved but somewhat hard to find dinosaur material; however, it also has ABUNDANT museum quality plant fossils.  This ranch is a must for any plant fossil collector. During the week we will spend time collecting in the dinosaur beds as well as time collecting plant fossils.

During Session #2, participants will have the opportunity to excavate one of the several fairly complete dinosaur specimens that were found during the 2009 season, as well as the normal collection activities.

We will be staying at a hotel to be determined soon.  (Fly to Rapid City, South Dakota)

 

Session #3 and 5

During these weeks we will be staying in Buffalo, South Dakota, collecting on a private ranch 45 miles north. Abundant Paleo-Indian artifacts are commonly found at this site, as well as a high concentration of dinosaur bones (Hell Creek Formation). Primarily these are Ceratopsian bones, occasionally articulated. Fantastic meals will be served at a local saloon with an excellent cook - nobody will go hungry! Do not plan to lose weight during these sessions!

We will be staying at the Tipperary Lodge Motel (605-375-3721) in Buffalo, South Dakota.  (Fly to Rapid City, South Dakota)

  

Sessions #6 and 7

In Sessions 6 and 7, we will be staying in Buffalo, South Dakota. We will be collecting on three Harding County ranches, all of which are in the Hell Creek Formation. These are all close to town, and over the years have produced large numbers of quality fossils. The ranches have many good collecting areas and are excellent for first time collectors as well as more experienced participants.

We will be staying at the Tipperary Lodge Motel (605-375-3721) in Buffalo, South Dakota.  (Fly to Rapid City, South Dakota)

  

Earn College Credit!

Dr. Steve Nicklas, the founder of PaleoProspectors, will be offering a college-credit field course for select participants through Gainesville State College, Gainesville, Georgia. Participants will get hands-on experience excavating two sites in Wyoming and North Dakota. Be the first to see these bones come from the ground before they get to the museum! For more information, please click on the "College Credit" menu tab on the left of this page. This requires advance registration for the two week course (Sessions #2 and 3).