PaleoJim
@paleojim.bsky.social
State Paleontologist for Utah; exploring and promoting the history of life in our southwestern deserts for the public good and the wonder of it all
Sadler's Dinosaur Frontier was 2nd in the science category for American Book Fest Best Book Awards. Hilariously, the winner is entitled: Spiritual Intelligence: Activating the 4 Circuits of the Awakened Brain by some guy named Dawson Church, Energy Psychology Press, this-earth.com/dinosaur-fro...
Dinosaur Frontier: Utah at the Dawn of the Cretaceous – This Earth
this-earth.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Sadler's Dinosaur Frontier was 2nd in the science category for American Book Fest Best Book Awards. Hilariously, the winner is entitled: Spiritual Intelligence: Activating the 4 Circuits of the Awakened Brain by some guy named Dawson Church, Energy Psychology Press, this-earth.com/dinosaur-fro...
Since we just found many new dino bones at the basal Cretaceous ferruginous paleosol site ("iron stone bonebed") including a second cervical ring spine. I feel we can diagnose polacanthid sp. C. Some diagnostic fossils for #FossilFriday @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @jlivelypaleo.bsky.social BIOSTRAT!
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Since we just found many new dino bones at the basal Cretaceous ferruginous paleosol site ("iron stone bonebed") including a second cervical ring spine. I feel we can diagnose polacanthid sp. C. Some diagnostic fossils for #FossilFriday @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @jlivelypaleo.bsky.social BIOSTRAT!
Dave Madsen was a former State Archaeologist with the Utah Division of State History. We overlapped at the UGS for a couple of years retiring to conduct fulltime research. This is a major review "Characterizing the American Upper Paleolithic" in Science Advances. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Characterizing the American Upper Paleolithic
Tool similarities link Late Pleistocene American and Northeast Asian lithic traditions.
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Dave Madsen was a former State Archaeologist with the Utah Division of State History. We overlapped at the UGS for a couple of years retiring to conduct fulltime research. This is a major review "Characterizing the American Upper Paleolithic" in Science Advances. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by PaleoJim
👀 one of these “Landmarks Papers in Vertebrate Palaeontology” looks familiar! #SVP2025 @systbiol.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
👀 one of these “Landmarks Papers in Vertebrate Palaeontology” looks familiar! #SVP2025 @systbiol.bsky.social
I will be speaking on the exciting data (science) from Utah pertaining to the J-K dinosaur mass extinction that whiped out the Morrison Dinosaur the end of the Real Jurassic Park at Clark Planetarium at the Gateway downtown Salt Lake City, Thurs 7PM. Nov. 13th. www.eventbrite.com/e/how-fossil...
November 12, 2025 at 6:26 AM
I will be speaking on the exciting data (science) from Utah pertaining to the J-K dinosaur mass extinction that whiped out the Morrison Dinosaur the end of the Real Jurassic Park at Clark Planetarium at the Gateway downtown Salt Lake City, Thurs 7PM. Nov. 13th. www.eventbrite.com/e/how-fossil...
Utah Friends of Paleontology will have Colin Boisvert as speaker on Thursday November 13th, 7:00 pm Mountain Time. He will be speaking on his research on Diplodocid sauropods, while at BYU. The link for that talk is here. meet.google.com/piy-hxai-qog @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Utah Friends of Paleontology will have Colin Boisvert as speaker on Thursday November 13th, 7:00 pm Mountain Time. He will be speaking on his research on Diplodocid sauropods, while at BYU. The link for that talk is here. meet.google.com/piy-hxai-qog @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
Out looking at correlation of Lower Cret strata and looking at the J-K boundary with Ed Simpson. This is always an educational experience.
November 9, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Out looking at correlation of Lower Cret strata and looking at the J-K boundary with Ed Simpson. This is always an educational experience.
#FossilFriday This morning we were shown a Ruby Ranch wood site preserving insect frass (poop). More importantly the site looks like extremely rare pollen site near Aptian-Albian boundary...fingers crossed. Very promising..screen wash for micros..too... @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
#FossilFriday This morning we were shown a Ruby Ranch wood site preserving insect frass (poop). More importantly the site looks like extremely rare pollen site near Aptian-Albian boundary...fingers crossed. Very promising..screen wash for micros..too... @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
Checked out the old Smith homestead on east side of San Rafael Swell. There is either an unmapped fault to east (we had geological map) or there is a very thick Cedar Mt section capped by a large fossil lake. Another trip to investigate. @jlivelypaleo.bsky.social @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Checked out the old Smith homestead on east side of San Rafael Swell. There is either an unmapped fault to east (we had geological map) or there is a very thick Cedar Mt section capped by a large fossil lake. Another trip to investigate. @jlivelypaleo.bsky.social @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
Some great geology on the south side of the Abajo Mts. Is that a sauropod track in the Morrison Formation? @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social @jeremybroberts.bsky.social @andrewtracks.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Some great geology on the south side of the Abajo Mts. Is that a sauropod track in the Morrison Formation? @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social @jeremybroberts.bsky.social @andrewtracks.bsky.social
Reposted by PaleoJim
Heads up that the Field Museum is hiring a vertebrate paleontology collections manager: www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/care...
November 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Heads up that the Field Museum is hiring a vertebrate paleontology collections manager: www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/care...
Reposted by PaleoJim
It’s Trilobite Tuesday! In 1698, Ogygiocarella became the first trilobite to be described & illustrated in scientific literature. But when it was first discovered in English outcrops, it hadn’t been recognized as a trilobite yet. In fact, the Ordovician species was referred to as a “flat fish.”
November 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
It’s Trilobite Tuesday! In 1698, Ogygiocarella became the first trilobite to be described & illustrated in scientific literature. But when it was first discovered in English outcrops, it hadn’t been recognized as a trilobite yet. In fact, the Ordovician species was referred to as a “flat fish.”
Reposted by PaleoJim
State-of-the-Art on the Brazilian Cretaceous non-avian Dinosaurs: Tracks and Bones
www.paleoitalia.it/wp-content/u...
www.paleoitalia.it/wp-content/u...
November 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
State-of-the-Art on the Brazilian Cretaceous non-avian Dinosaurs: Tracks and Bones
www.paleoitalia.it/wp-content/u...
www.paleoitalia.it/wp-content/u...
Describing and sampling J/K boundary on cut on SR 191 sw of Blanding lotsof thin section s to come big uppermost Morrison "bauxite" samples from laterite to slab. Ferrugenous paleosols of Yellow Car cool too. Section measured, but lots of work remains. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Describing and sampling J/K boundary on cut on SR 191 sw of Blanding lotsof thin section s to come big uppermost Morrison "bauxite" samples from laterite to slab. Ferrugenous paleosols of Yellow Car cool too. Section measured, but lots of work remains. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
In the field for the next week. First off, heading down into the Blanding Basin of southeastern Utah with mapping program to field check maps and provide insights of mapping mid Mesozoic formation contacts for up coming mapping projects. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 3:11 AM
In the field for the next week. First off, heading down into the Blanding Basin of southeastern Utah with mapping program to field check maps and provide insights of mapping mid Mesozoic formation contacts for up coming mapping projects. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social
Reposted by PaleoJim
For anyone interested in more details, the book that's heavily referenced in this story is fantastic, and #philsci people will also be interested in the central role played by Ludwig Fleck: bookshop.org/p/books/fant...
Fantastic Laboratory of Dr. Weigl: How Two Brave Scientists Battled Typhus and Sabotaged the Nazis
How Two Brave Scientists Battled Typhus and Sabotaged the Nazis
bookshop.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
For anyone interested in more details, the book that's heavily referenced in this story is fantastic, and #philsci people will also be interested in the central role played by Ludwig Fleck: bookshop.org/p/books/fant...
For #FossilFriday an amazing fossil from the largest dino Museum in the world' Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, China. This Beipiaosaurus specimen knocked my sox off. Play with this 3D model, we made out of my photographs through the glass. sketchfab.com/3d-models/be... @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 10:32 PM
For #FossilFriday an amazing fossil from the largest dino Museum in the world' Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, China. This Beipiaosaurus specimen knocked my sox off. Play with this 3D model, we made out of my photographs through the glass. sketchfab.com/3d-models/be... @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
Reposted by PaleoJim
Remember to check your kids candy for paleontology! #paleontology
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Remember to check your kids candy for paleontology! #paleontology
Certainly resolves the debate. I love how paleontology knows so much, while knowing so little. www.nature.com/articles/d41... @paleontologizing.bsky.social I think your next twitch is spoken for....lol
T. rex debate settled: contested fossils are smaller rival species, not juveniles
New evidence answers the question about whether some fossils are Tyrannosaurus rex juveniles or a different species, with implications for decades of published science.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Certainly resolves the debate. I love how paleontology knows so much, while knowing so little. www.nature.com/articles/d41... @paleontologizing.bsky.social I think your next twitch is spoken for....lol
Reposted by PaleoJim
Loosing the PRI would devastate US science. Any level donation, spreading the word helps. #FossilFriday #SaveScience
priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
Save the Museum of the Earth – Secure Its Future!
In these challenging times, places like the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) stand as beacons of hope, fostering understanding of the natural world and inspiring action for a sustainable fut...
priweb.donorsupport.co
October 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Loosing the PRI would devastate US science. Any level donation, spreading the word helps. #FossilFriday #SaveScience
priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
As someone who has worked hard to bring economic benefit to the state of Utah as it preserves one of the most complete fossil bearing rock sequences especially in the world through bringing conference to Utah and developing tourism & educational opportunities; this is really depressing news!
October 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
As someone who has worked hard to bring economic benefit to the state of Utah as it preserves one of the most complete fossil bearing rock sequences especially in the world through bringing conference to Utah and developing tourism & educational opportunities; this is really depressing news!
Reposted by PaleoJim
Delighted to share our special collection of 24 landmark papers in vertebrate palaeontology published in @journalsystpal.bsky.social in the last 15 years, assembled to coincide with #SVP2025 #2025SVP. All these papers are free to access now and through November: www.tandfonline.com/journals/tjs...
JSP Landmark Papers in Vertebrate Palaeontology
Explore the article collection: JSP Landmark Papers in Vertebrate Palaeontology. Published in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
www.tandfonline.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Delighted to share our special collection of 24 landmark papers in vertebrate palaeontology published in @journalsystpal.bsky.social in the last 15 years, assembled to coincide with #SVP2025 #2025SVP. All these papers are free to access now and through November: www.tandfonline.com/journals/tjs...
I will be speaking on the exciting data (science) from Utah pertaining to the J-K dinosaur mass extinction that wipped out the Morrison Dinos at end of Real Jurassic Park at Clark Planetarium at the Gateway downtown Salt Lake City, Thursday evening Nov. 13th. www.eventbrite.com/e/how-fossil...
October 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I will be speaking on the exciting data (science) from Utah pertaining to the J-K dinosaur mass extinction that wipped out the Morrison Dinos at end of Real Jurassic Park at Clark Planetarium at the Gateway downtown Salt Lake City, Thursday evening Nov. 13th. www.eventbrite.com/e/how-fossil...
Reposted by PaleoJim
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
A classification unearthed: the history of palaeontological objects as cultural property in international law
Abstract. Fossils are an overlooked yet threatened category of cultural property. This article traces how they became protected by international law under
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
Lost an important keystone of my Ph. D. committee. Don Eicher was an expert on Cret. forams and a great guy who was a great counterpoint to Erle Kauffman, " Captain Cretaceous." With Bill Cobban, ammonites and Bill Hay, paleoclimatology I had pretty amazing advisors. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Lost an important keystone of my Ph. D. committee. Don Eicher was an expert on Cret. forams and a great guy who was a great counterpoint to Erle Kauffman, " Captain Cretaceous." With Bill Cobban, ammonites and Bill Hay, paleoclimatology I had pretty amazing advisors. @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social