Digging up dinosaur remains in New Mexico

Created: 11/24/2014 1:42 PM By: Kim Tobin, KOB Eyewitness News 4

It might be hard to imagine, but dinosaurs roamed the land of New Mexico hundreds of millions ago. Now, paleontologists from all over the world study our landscape to unearth past mysteries.

"New Mexico has one of the world's best fossil records of dinosaurs," said Dr. Spencer Lucas, with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

Dr. Lucas gives people a glimpse into the past, when dinosaurs once roamed the land we walk upon. There are several discoveries on display that were dug up in our own back yard.

"What you will see in this museum that has to do with dinosaurs, is something you will see nowhere else," Dr. Lucas said. "We have a complete up to date exhibit halls devoted to the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous of New Mexico."

The museum is a magnet for visitors, like Stephen Miller from Oregon.

"My wife Winnie and I are in the museum today, and just awing over the dinosaurs," said Miller. "I've never seen anything like this myself."

In New Mexico many people stumble across fossils all the time. If anyone finds a fossil, they are encouraged to report the discovery to the university, state park or a land manager so it can be properly collected.

"Because we have a lot of people try to dig them out themselves, and it really takes some background and experience to do it right," Dr. Lucas said.

Who knows? Your discovery could be the next display at our museum.

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Digging up dinosaur remains in New Mexico