Alex S. Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 Hey everybody, on my most recent excursion in the Hell creek formation ear the powder river in montana. I found some pieces of weathered out bone all in a 5 foot radius of each other on a small rise. Due to changing weather and approaching night I didn't have the chance to uncover anything else so I grabbed the weathered out pieces and will come back to the site in August. I am a beginner and am honestly stumped as to what these could be. The 2 largest bone fragments measure 22x10.5x2.5cm and 12.8x7.3x2.9cm respectively. I am inbetween chunkasaurous or a possible ceratopsian frill. But I don't see the pronounced blood grooves frills are supposed to have. For the next largest bone fragment measuring 10x3.7x2.0cm I was thinking a vertebral process, rib, or the edge of a frill, the rounded edge on it has the same sized round as the one present on the largest bone. The rest I have no idea the smallest pieces have some interest patterning that look like some patterning I've seen or turtle shells from hell creek but these are really small. I know @Troodon has been a wonderful help before but I'd love anyone elses opinion if they can be identified or are just a lovely addition to my chunkasaur collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadrosauridae Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 The smallest ones are bits of turtle shell. I dont think you'll a better ID on the rest than chunk-O's. They look like they were heavily weathered / tumbled before deposition. I agree that I dont see the expected blood grooves for the large piece to be frill, but thats not a 100% diagnostic element for a small piece. Could also be a partial scapula or pelvic portion. That area deserves another look in the future for sure! Professional fossil preparation services at Red Dirt Fossils, LLC. https://reddirtfossils.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex S. Posted July 8, 2022 Author Share Posted July 8, 2022 Thank you @hadrosauridae, I'm really glad I was on the right track with those turtle shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 Yes agree, they could be but I would have expected some evidence of blood grooves and none are present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex S. Posted July 8, 2022 Author Share Posted July 8, 2022 Thank you @troodon into the chunkosaur display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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