2012 Dig Program Dates. 

Dig availability as of  11/25/11

Week 1  July 8th to July 13th.   Full 

Week 2  July 15th to July 20th.  75% Full  

Week 3  July 29th to August 3rd. 65% Full  

Email or call for dig space availability at jrdi@bresnan.net or 1-406-696-5842.

Since 1993, JRDI has been dedicated to the preservation and education of Montana's rich dinosaur history through our field programs.  Our six-day long dig programs are tailored with this mission in mind.   If you are serious about any aspect of natural history and love the outdoors, you'll find this a rich learning experience.  Our programs appeal to a wide audience: students, professionals and people from all walks of life from around the globe.

Each specimen we excavate has scientific value, so our digs are not for the casual vacationer.  Even if you've  never had any class room or field experience, you can still participate.  We just ask you come willing to learn and receive instruction. Everyone helps both in the quarry and in the camp! 

Sometimes our work is hot, dry and dusty, but it's always rewarding.  Perhaps that's why so many volunteers return.  We hope you'll join us in 2011.  We look forward to seeing our old friends and making new ones.  Please note:  the minimum age of participants is 14 (sorry, no exceptions).

2011 Field Report

September 13, 2011

The 2011 excavation programs were exciting as we continued to uncover more stegosaur bones and began the excavation of the new sauropod just above the stegosaur horizon. The pelvis of this new sauropod is massive compared to a stegosaur pelvis and looks like a huge mound of bones! All the team members were amazed as we uncovered tail vertebra the size of coffee cans and ribs over six feet long. As we excavated into the hill in front of the pelvis we discovered that the dorsal (chest) vertebra were all articulated which bodes well for this specimen and the upcoming 2012 digs. My hunch is that we have another Montanasaurus w. with much more of the body present lying in the hillside.

Team members also uncovered several plates including a large, beautifully preserved dorsal plate almost 1 meter wide at the base. Other stegosaur material recovered this season was various vertebra and ribs. However, the large plate was discovered just below the sauropod's pelvis so I believe the stegosaur bone bed continues under the sauropod and it will need to be removed before we can excavate much more of the stegosaur fossils.

This year we had the great pleasure to welcome sedimentologist Dean Richmond to the team. Dean has extensive experience in the taphonomy of the Morrison formation. He has been a great help to our project and all the college interns. Dean and I are also working on several hypotheses on the paleo-environment and what happen to these dinosaurs at this site. We will be doing some geochemical testing and dating of samples taken from the site.

What to Expect for 2012…

Team members will primarily focus on the new sauropod discovery. Uncovering this Jurassic giant will be a fascinating excavation as we expose the sprawling skeleton! We plan to have all the major overburden removed by backhoe before week one’s crew arrives. Digging up an animal will take an eager crew willing to work hard with great rewards. Hope everyone can join us in 2012.

2012 also marks our 19th season we’ve offered these programs and with that I want to thank everyone from our landowner host to my dedicated staff, interns and all of our great volunteer team members.

Proper excavation of these great creatures can only be achieved through dedication, cooperation, communication, enthusiasm and a passion for knowledge. Thank you again for all of that! We could never do any of this without all of you.

Nate L. Murphy

Judith River Dinosaur Institute

Rolling a jacket

Put your back into it!

  2011 Dig Photo Gallery