Fossils Online

This 8-inch-tall sandstone specimen preserves a fascinating mix of ancient remains—including bones, ossified tendons, a few shed (spit) teeth, a crocodile scute, and fragments of turtle shell—all left undisturbed in the exact position they were found. Unearthed from the Lance Formation in Wyoming, the fossil likely belonged to Edmontosaurus annectens, a duck-billed hadrosaur that lived during the final chapter of the Cretaceous period. It offers a vivid snapshot of late Mesozoic life, frozen in stone for over 66 million years.

The Lance Formation in Wyoming, a geological formation from the Late Cretaceous period, is known for its rich fossil content, including the remains of hadrosaurs, a group of duck-billed dinosaurs. Among the most intriguing discoveries from this region are the fossilized tendons of these hadrosaurs, which offer unique insights into the anatomy and physiology of these prehistoric creatures.

Characteristics of Fossilized Tendons: Fossilized tendons in hadrosaurs are primarily ossified tendons, which means they have undergone a process of mineralization, turning them into stone. These tendons are typically found along the spine and tail of the dinosaur. In life, these tendons would have provided support and stability to the animal's body, especially important for large, bipedal or quadrupedal creatures like hadrosaurs.