Camp 1 - The Hunt for Dinosaurs Begins

Paul inspects the bones of an unknown sauropod,
a member of the largest group of plant-eating
animals ever to have evolved.

Once we set up Camp 1 - in a site near where the 2000 expedition team found fossils - we took out the geology and topographic maps and charted a route and week-long schedule that would allow us to investigate about 100 miles of unexplored territory.  We trekked over every hill and investigated every suspicious rock, all the while repeating to ourselves, "I'll find something on the other side of that rock," or "Maybe the big one is just four more steps away." 

A 90 million year old croc jaw was Carol's first discovery
and her first chance to excavate.

When you find a fossil, you feel like you've found gold.  The excitement is like a bolt of electricity coursing through your veins.  After traveling for over a week to get into the field, the hunt was on for undiscovered paleontological treasures. All of us are always dreaming about making the "Big Find," but the reality is, we could go the entire field season without finding anything really good. 

Luke works his way around a valuable croc jaw, outlining the rock and fossil that he will cover with a plaster jacket.

In just our first week of prospecting, we found some great fossils!  On the first day Andy spotted a collection of sauropod limb bones, ribs, and vertebrae.  Also hot on the 90- million-year-old trail, Carol found an area rich with bone, including the jaws of a crocodile.  Luke was fortunate enough to find a small theropod femur.  I found a gigantic crocodile tooth, and, holding it up to the setting sun, couldn't hold back a very loud scream of joy at my success.  With the hunt just beginning, we are off to a good start and can't wait to see what else Niger has in store...continued