Trip #2 to Hill City.

This time, we actually got to go INSIDE the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc.

One of the most incredible displays of material I've ever seen.

Here, just...have a look:

Triceratops horridus, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, Edmontosaurus annectens, and the rear half of a Bison antiquus.

An incredible, incredible display of Liaoning specimens, including this Liaoxiornis sp. Note the clawless hands. The province of Liaoning in China has a few really superb Early Cretaceous (122 million years before present (MYBP)) deposits--the Chaomidianzi and the Yixian Formations. It's a prime example of a Lagerstatten, or fossil "deposit place" with particularly well-preserved specimens.

Oh...when I saw that this was real, I was speechless. This is the beautiful Confusciusornis sanctus, complete with feather impressions and long tail feathers (an indication that this individual was male?) Also in the picture (clockwise from the Confusciusornis) are hatchling diapsid reptiles (Hyphalosaurus (Sinohydrosaurus) lingyuanensis), a fossil spider and a fossil dragonfly and nymph of indeterminate species (at least, unknown to me). Absolutely astounding preservation.

Ammonites, ammonites, ammonites. Left to right along the bottom: Splenodiscus splendens, unknown, Toxochelys sp. (the turtle), something greylocki complexus, Pachydiscus, unknown. Also Dunkleosteus telleri and Xiphactinus audax (the two big mean fish), what look to me like belemnites, life-models of nautiloids and ammonites, and a nifty plesiosaur.

"Stan", one of the most complete tyrannosaurs yet found.