Maryland
‘Best dinosaur site east of the Mississippi’ is in Maryland — and lots of fossils are being found – WTOP News
A paleontologist working at the Laurel site said, “the [2014] discovery of this rare dinosaur fossil and bone bed marks an extraordinary milestone in the field of paleontology, and opens a window into our ancient world.”
It started almost by accident in 2014, when excavating equipment at the Prince George’s County dinosaur dig site in Laurel, Maryland, unearthed a giant dinosaur bone.
Since then, more and more discoveries have been made.
The excavation site sits off Contee Road, east of Route 1 in an area surrounded by warehouses.
But imagine what it was like before the warehouses dotted the landscape, some 115 million years ago. Every geological indication is that there was a slow, meandering river running over that land, emptying out into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ocean was a lot closer than it is now, and the Chesapeake Bay hadn’t even been formed. At some point, a naturally occurring dam appeared — whether made by an animal or simply by the collection of vegetation debris. Scientists believe that dam kept the bodies of these dinosaurs from getting dragged away in the current.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, mostly iron and then clay were mined from the area. Currently, paleontologists and families alike go there in search of dinosaur fossils. And since 2014, they have been finding a lot of them.
“The (2014) discovery of this rare dinosaur fossil and bone bed marks an extraordinary milestone in the field of paleontology,” said JP Hodnett, a paleontologist with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. “(It) opens a window into our ancient world and to the species that once roamed this land.”
Some of the plant and animals that have been found, Hodnett said, include small young sharks, tiny little mammals, crocodiles, turtles, “our own very tiny little relative of triceratops,” swift raptors, a spiky plant-eating dinosaur, and a giant meat-eating dinosaur that Hodnett said “probably can give Tyrannosaurus rex nightmares.”
There’s also Astrodon Johnstoni — “our own special Maryland State dinosaur and the largest dinosaur on this side of North America,” Hodnett said, not forgetting the local pride.
Another local paleontologist called the site in Laurel the most significant and best fossil site east of the Mississippi River.
“Our knowledge of the dinosaurs from the eastern part of North America has been lacking, compared to what we know about in the West,” said University of Maryland paleontologist Tom Holtz. “But this site is helping to change that.”
Among the bones believed to have been uncovered there is that of an Acroanthosaurus.
“It’s a large predatory dinosaur. The largest predatory dinosaur in North America until T. rex evolved about 50 million years later, but this is not a Tyrannosaur,” Holtz said. “It is actually more closely related to an earlier dinosaur from 35 million years older … called Allosaurus.”
While evidence of Acrocanthosaurus has mostly been found in Oklahoma and states in that region, Holtz said they have found isolated teeth and bones at the Laurel site that are around the same age as those found in Oklahoma.
“So we’re hoping, by preparing out this shinbone, we could see if it is indeed, first of all, a carnivorous dinosaur; and secondly, if it’s actually Acrocanthosaurus or another exciting possibility,” Holtz said.
“If there are features that show it’s similar to, but distinct from Acrocanthosaurus, that is possibly an entirely new species.”
Whatever they have found, Holtz said it was big — and dangerous.
“So this is the apex predator at the site. The largest. The top predator. The thing that’s eating everything else,” he said.
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
(WTOP/John Domen)
WTOP/John Domen
Scientists also believe they’ve unearthed fossils from a tyrannosaur, a precursor to the T. rex that roamed the Western United States tens of millions of years later.
“Back at this time, the tyrannosaurs were like the jackals or the coyotes,” Holtz said.
Some of the bigger bones are getting hauled away for more analysis, but thousands of fossils are believed to be embedded in the rock.
Though many of them are on the smaller side, Hodnett said it is a paleontologist’s dream site.
“People don’t think of the National Capital Region as a major center for fossils. But this site is the best dinosaur site east of the Mississippi,” Holtz said.
“And it already was before … simply on the diversity of fossils found. But now it’s even more so because we have these multiple large bones of multiple species found together. And it’s going to give us a lot more insights as to what was living here — and dying here — 115 million years ago.”
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2023 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
A 16-year-old student at a high school in Maryland has been detained after he allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old student in one of the school’s bathrooms.
The name of the suspect has yet to be released. The victim, Warren Curtis Grant, died following the shooting at Joppatowne High School. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler made the announcement at a press briefing.
The suspect fled the scene but was detained close by just minutes later.
“He has yet to be charged but will be charged, and at the time those charges are preferred as an adult, we will release the name of the suspect,” Gahler told the press, according to The Guardian.
The sheriff added that his office has handled more than 10 cases in the last two years “where the suspect was either the victim, witness or the suspect in an incident handled by the Harford county sheriff’s office.”
While the sheriff’s office told the public to avoid the area after the shooting, it said that it was an “isolated incident, not an active shooter.”
An “active shooter” situation refers to when a suspect is firing against everyone they see rather than targeting a particular person.
An area church was used as a reunification center for students and their parents. The school is located about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Gahler noted that more than 100 law enforcement officials responded to the scene.
The fight at Joppatowne High School took place just two days after the shooting at a high school outside Atlanta, Georgia where a 14-year-old shot and killed four people.
Michigan State got the job done in its season opener, but it wasn’t pretty as it hung on at home against Florida Atlantic. Now, it has to head on the road to open Big Ten play in what promises to be a tougher test.
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on FuboTV (free trial)
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on Sling
· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on DirecTV Stream
· Visit MLive’s Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos
Michigan State is 1-0, but the road gets tougher now. The Spartans go on the road and start Big Ten play early in Week 2 with a trip to Maryland. The Terrapins have a new look this year without quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa but looked strong in their season-opener against Howard last week.
· Who: Michigan State at Maryland
· When: 3:30 p.m.
· Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
· Twitter: Follow Matt Wenzel
· Live updates: Beginning at 2:30 p.m. at mlive.com/spartans
· Latest line: Maryland -9.5
TV Network: Big Ten Network
Streaming options:
· FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month for all U.S. plans. Sign up to get your favorite TV shows, live sports events, and much more
· Sling currently has an offer of $20 for the first month of subscription and has streaming coverage of live sports, news and entertainment.
· DirecTV Stream offers live sports, news and on demand TV.
Five must-reads before kickoff:
* Michigan State lost two members of its secondary, Dillon Tatum and Khalil Majeed, to long-term injuries in its season opener. The team is turning to some new faces to fill in the holes from those injuries.
* Alex VanSumeren was once Michigan State’s top-rated recruit, but he’s been seldom seen on the field due to injuries. Now, though, he’s healthy and making his mark on the Spartans’ defensive line.
* Aidan Chiles’ 10-completion, two-interception performance in Michigan State’s season-opener was his “floor,” according to offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who has a plan to improve the quarterback’s performance going forward.
* Jonathan Smith had a name for Week 1 in college football: overreaction Saturday. He’s cautioning fans not to put too much stock into an opening performance that likely underwhelmed many.
* The run game and discipline are two of Matt Wenzel’s five things to watch in this week’s matchup.
Michigan State
* Passing: Aidan Chiles 10-14, 114 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
* Rushing: Kay’ron Lynch-Adams 9 rush, 101 yards, 1 TD
* Receiving: Michael Masunas 2 rec., 29 yards, 0 TD
* Tackles: Angelo Grose 12
* Sacks: Khris Bogle 1.5
* Interceptions: Grose, Nikai Martinez 1
Maryland
* Passing: Billy Edwards Jr. 20-27, 311 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
* Rushing: Roman Hemby 14 rush, 66 yards, 1 TD
* Receiving: Tai Felton 7 rec., 178 yards, 2 TD
* Tackles: Glendon Miller 6
* Sacks: None
* Interceptions: Ruben Hyppolite II, Miller 1
Friday, Sept. 6
Western Illinois at Indiana
Duke at Northwestern
Saturday, Sept. 7
Texas at Michigan, noon (FOX)
Rhode Island at Minnesota, noon (Peacock)
Bowling Green at Penn State, noon (BTN)
Akron at Rutgers, noon (BTN)
Iowa State at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Michigan State at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
Eastern Michigan at Washington, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
South Dakota at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Kansas at Illinois, 7 p.m. (FS1)
Colorado at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Western Michigan at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Boise State at Oregon, 10 p.m. (Peacock)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Michigan State has an excellent chance to make a strong statement this weekend that the rebuilding job under new head coach Jonathan Smith is ahead of schedule, if the Spartans can take down 8-point favorite Maryland on Saturday.
A Michigan State victory would be a strong statement within the football industry, but maybe not as strong from a fan perspective. I’m not sure Maryland’s football brand is as respected in the state of Michigan and regionally as it should be, for a program that has gone 8-5 in the past two seasons and defeated Auburn and North Carolina State in bowl games the past two years.
Maryland is good. The Terrapins are coming off a 50-7 victory over a weak UConn team last week. Maryland’s offense looked very good against a weak, soft, conservative UConn defense.
Michigan State’s defense was ahead of schedule last week against a mediocre Florida Atlantic offense. Michigan State’s offense was behind schedule, experiencing inconsistent accuracy and decision-making at the quarterback position, which was somewhat understandable considering it was sophomore Aidan Chiles’ first start as a college player. MSU’s running game also lacked consistency, especially in short yardage and in the red zone.
The big news from Maryland last week in my opinion was the excellent play of new starting quarterback Billy Edwards. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound redshirt-junior had waited behind the outgoing, record-breaking Taulia Tagovailoa for three years. Tagovailoa left Maryland as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader. He went undrafted and is now playing in the CFL.
Edwards looked good last week. He’s strong in the pocket, is a physical ball carrier on designed runs or scrambles. He was accurate over the middle on intermediate routes, and seemed to do a good job processing coverages, although UConn’s coverages were simple, slow and soft.
I saw this Michigan State vs Maryland game as a swing game on the schedule prior to the season. But considering how well Edwards and his receivers looked last week, and Michigan State’s sputtering start on offense, this game goes from being a swing game to uphill slog for the Spartans.
'Multiple explosions' occur as auto repair shop fire burns cars during heatwave
Eight-Year NBA Veteran Reps Detroit Pistons in Latest Workout
San Francisco 49ers Star Offers Praise for New York Jets Wide Receiver
Dallas Mavericks to Re-Sign Former NBA Champion
Broward County Public Schools address social media threat
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Stefanik files ethics complaint against Trump trial judge alleging Harris campaign paid his daughter’s company
Russian strikes kill at least three people in eastern Ukraine
Dick Cheney's Reason for Endorsing Harris Over Trump
Conservative economists pour cold water on Harris' new small-business tax proposal
Voting under way in Algeria’s presidential election
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoSaripodhaa Sanivaaram Movie Review Rating
-
World1 week agoEconomic portfolios are key in talks to chose new EU commissioners
-
News1 week agoHarris kicks off Georgia tour as Trump posts grievances on social media
-
Politics1 week agoEx-California resident slams state bill that gives illegal immigrants housing loans: 'Asinine'
-
Politics1 week agoTrump impersonates Elon Musk talking about rockets: ‘I’m doing a new stainless steel hub’
-
World1 week agoBrussels, my love? Is France becoming the sick man of Europe?
-
Politics1 week agoTrump campaign slams Harris as 'still a San Francisco radical' after CNN interview
-
Politics1 week agoHarris says no regrets about defending Biden fitness for office