In 2008 I was able to help Nate Murphy's Judith River Dinosaur Institute program Little Snowy Mountains Dinosaur Project as a field leader and JRDI staff member. What a season!

We the JRDI Staff wanted to give all you participants a brief field report and summary of the 2008 stegosaur site as well as the new dates for 2009.

First off, JRDI staff would like to thank all of you for your hard work which allowed us to make some GREAT progress! During week one, we moved a lot of dirt (thanks to Rodney and a back hoe). Most of you had the experience of uncovering new bones. The second week we mapped the site and managed to uncover MORE bones. During the third week, we peeled off bones from the main block for lab prep and created pedestals and jackets for the remaining bones left for next year's excavation. Oh yes, let's not forget the week 3 team managed to find the fourth stegosaur! The bones continue into the hillside with no signs of letting up. From all appearances, we have a stegosaur graveyard! This entire progression is one we could not have done without all of you and we can't thank you enough for that. It's our sincere hope as staff that you all took away an education with this hard work and each year we will continue to add more to the learning experience.

2009 Field Program Work Plans. 8/23/08 During the three weeks of the 2009 Little Snowy Mts. Dinosaur Project we will mainly concentrate on excavation of our stegosaur bonebed, and possibly open up a another site about 30-50 feet along the hill

One other update: staff will be working on making a prep lab come to the Billings community! The site has been secured and we will be spending the winter getting it ready so the bones you have dug now have a destination. In addition, we hope to offer fossil prep courses and tours through JRDI. If any of you wish to be a part of this in any way through donations so we can get the lab up and going, it would be appreciated. Hopefully, through this effort many of you will be able to enjoy working in the lab on the bones you helped excavate. We'll keep all of you posted as we go. For now, we've linked here a page with a photo of the location and the signage of our new home in downtown Billings.

Next summer I will again join JRDI staff (Nate and Matt Murphy, Susie Maidment, Elena Victory) part of the JRDI Staff as we lead at least three weeks of the Little Snowy Mountains Dinosaur Project I hope you might consider joining us on this exciting program! Please realize that for 2009 the three weeks are filling quickly with many returnees in what is proving to be a unique one of a kind find for stegosaurs so if you want to join us do not hesitate to do so. You will find this an opportunity rarely afforded to work on these rare stegosaurs and one of the first monospecific stegosaur bonebed.

Now the 2008 photos are up and they have captions so check out the 3 week tour repsesented in these photos, maybe you will want to join us for 2009

Now the JRDI is settled in Billings, and this summer (July 2008) we found a building to house equipment, display and prepare the stegosaurs from this project. Nate, Matt, Elena and others (such as Rodney) will be working to prepare the building this fall to begin work on the stegosaur material we have out of the ground.

Here is the link to the next years program: Little Snowy Mountains Dinosaur project page of the Judith River Institute. 2008 continued work on the new Stegosaur material found along the same ridge as the "Mystery Sauropod". The stegosaur bonebed as I mentioned goes into the hill with no sign of stopping, and through further exploration along the ridgline we have determined that the hill we are working several bone horizons that go for several miles. This is developing into a major long term field project and research program.

Our site is Located about 82 miles north of Billings, Montana, nestled in the pine tree dotted foothills beneath the Little Snowy Mountains, where we have found many remains of several possibly new dinosaurs from the Jurassic period.

Now that I am officially retired and do not have to take vacation time I will be devoting a substantial part of my mid summer time as a staff member of the Judith River Dinosaur Institute so expect to see alot more information about that work here. This year I did make a one week visit to Steve in Utah, but between too much work here and other summer plans this may not be as regular as I once was. I gave a presentation on this dig (same slide show above for 2008) and we did some Green River work and preliminary work for a possible JRDI paleo tour of Colorado Plateau.

Imagine being part of our paleontological team with the privilege of excavating a creature over 150 million years old! This may be a new species, offering a rare opportunity indeed!

Although prior field experience is not required for the 2009 Little Snowy Moutains Dinosaur Project, please realize that this is a scientific excavation and should be treated as such. If you are not a dinosaur fan, that’s okay! But bring a serious student-like attitude with you.

WARNING!! This is NOT a Paleo-dude ranch! However, we also know how to have a little fun in the process. And let me tell you we have some real fun and some of the best food you will ever find in a field dig -- second to none!!! So, if you don’t mind the hard work, hot sun, the occasional bug and wildlife running around, join us in excavating this unknown giant of the Mesozoic under the big sky of Montana.

This program will be a camp-out dig - no motels - and will offer a true Montana outdoor experience. Tuition includes all food and beverages (except alcoholic) while we are at camp.

Participants must bring their own tents, sleeping bags and personal effects. All excavation materials will be provided. We will help coordinate the rendezvous point and ground transportation (shared participant cost) from and to Billings, MT. If you have further questions regarding the program please feel free to contact us at (406) 696-5842

Sauropod and Stegosaurus Camp-out Digs Field Program Stats(Note these are the definate dates for 2009, Dino Russ 8-22-08):

Mailing Address: Judith River Dinosaur Institute
Judith River Dinosaur Institute - 2008
Box 51177 Billings, MT 59105
Contact Nate Murphy at: (406) 696-5842
Email: jrdi@bresnan.net

For more information on our program through the JRDI and the registration form for 2008 may be found here.

Dino Russ 7-28-08