Exploring the Dueling Dinosaurs: Unveiling NC’s First Open-Access Paleontology Lab

Raleigh’s North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is set to open the “Dueling Dinosaurs” exhibit this weekend, featuring the world’s first open access paleontology lab. Dr. Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the museum, described the exhibit as showcasing a predator and prey buried together in one grave at a specific moment in time, offering exquisite preservation of their remains.

Zanno explained that when the animals died and were buried, their bodies were still intact with flesh, organs, skin, and muscles, resulting in every bone in their skeletons being preserved as they would have been when they were alive. Scientists will spend four to five years meticulously studying the fossils for insights into their lives and deaths. They will be extremely careful not to damage any valuable evidence during excavation.

The dinosaurs in the exhibit are both over 20 feet long, making them enormous creatures to study. Once the lab opens, visitors will have interactive exhibits that allow them to explore reptile skulls and virtually uncover fossils. Zanno hopes that these exhibits will spark children’s interest in science at an age when they typically lose interest.

The “Dueling Dinosaurs” exhibit opens on Saturday April 27th with free admission to the museum and exhibit. Timed access tickets are being issued to regulate visitor numbers inside the lab and ensure an enjoyable experience for all.