Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago. And parts of them are still around today. Some dino bones are on display in museums. Others are still deep underground, waiting to be uncovered by scientists. One team of experts just dug up a huge skull of a triceratops in Shadehill, South Dakota.
David Schmidt and his team first visited the site in 2019. A local person had spotted a bone sticking out of the ground. When the researchers arrived, they stared, full of excitement. Could it be a triceratops skull?
The team members started digging in June of this year. And the more they dug, the clearer it became. “We began to uncover the skull,” Schmidt told News-O-Matic. “I couldn’t believe it!” It is very rare to find such a complete skull. There are so many parts that usually decay. Schmidt explained that the team felt “stunned, excited, and overwhelmed.”
This discovery is special. So, the scientists gave it a unique name. The team named the skull Shady, “to honor the members of the Shadehill community.” The experts camped outside in that area while they worked. This was because they wanted to stay safe from the coronavirus. Every day, they unearthed more bones.
Shady’s skull has been sent to Westminster College to be studied. That is in Missouri. This will help researchers understand more about this giant dino. And all the bones the team couldn’t bring with it will stay at the site for new scientists to dig up and learn about.
Schmidt says that learning is one of the best parts of being a scientist. “My job brings a sense of the ultimate adventure,” he added. “And I love that!”
Whatever your adventure is, “find the determination and passion to accomplish it,” Schmidt said. “Surround yourself with people who inspire you.”
The expert wanted to share another message with kids: “Never give up!”
Updated September 7, 2020, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Alexa Tirapelli
