Three schoolboys discover 67 million-year-old T-rex fossil in the US

Three boys from North Dakota made an extraordinary find that left them “completely speechless.” Liam and Jessie Fisher, along with their cousin Kaiden Madsen, discovered a 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex bone during a hike. Known for their interest in fossil hunting, the boys found the bone in the North Dakota badlands in July 2022.

The discovery, which they dubbed the “Teen Rex,” was confirmed by Dr. Tyler Lyson, a family friend and associate curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The bone belonged to a juvenile T-rex, a rare find that offers valuable insights into the growth and development of these dinosaurs.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science announced the discovery on June 4, 2023, stating that the fossil would be studied and later displayed. The Hell Creek Formation, where the bone was found, is known for its rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, preserving the Earth’s last dinosaur ecosystem before their extinction.

During the hike, Liam and his father Sam noticed a large bone protruding from the ground. Upon calling Jessie and Kaiden over, they recognized it as a dinosaur bone. They sent a picture to Dr. Lyson, who then acquired an excavation permit. Nearly a year after the initial find, the team returned to the site in July 2023 to begin excavation.

On the first day of digging, Dr. Lyson and Jessie uncovered the lower jaw of the T-rex, complete with several large teeth. The discovery was a thrilling moment for everyone involved. Experts estimate that the “Teen Rex” was about 13 to 15 years old, measured 25 feet in length, and weighed approximately 1,600 kilograms, which is about two-thirds the size of an adult T-rex.

Dr. Lyson highlighted the importance of such juvenile specimens, as they help scientists understand the growth rate and physical changes of Tyrannosaurus rex during its maturation. The boys’ remarkable find has contributed significantly to paleontology, advancing scientific knowledge and deepening our understanding of the natural world.