Rare Dinosaur Mummy of Preserved Hadrosaur Found Sticking Out of a Hill in Canada

A rare "dinosaur mummy" with a preserved hadrosaur fossil of the best quality ever found, according to paleontologists, has been found in Canada.

A Hadrosaur in Dinosaur Provincial Park

Researchers discovered the fossil of the hadrosaur in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta. The hadrosaur was a duck-billed, large-bodied, and herbivorous dinosaur. the group of researchers included those from the UK's University of Reading.

One of the best-preserved dinosaur fossils ever found paleontologists assert that they have found a rare "dinosaur mummy" in Canada.

The dinosaur's remains included a significant portion of its tail as well as its right hind foot, and the entire skeleton may be still preserved embedded within the hill, according to researchers.

Although hadrosaur fossils are fairly common in this region of the world, scientists noted that the discovery is special because a significant portion of the dinosaur's exposed skeleton is covered in fossilized skin.

Dinosaur Mummy

According to Brian Pickles from the University of Reading and other scientists in the group, the "dinosaur mummy" may provide more insight into the creature's overall anatomy and appearance.

Pickles said that they hope to finish the excavation throughout the next two field seasons. Experts say that this is probably a juvenile based on the tail and foot's diminutive size.

The dinosaur species may have perished between 77 and 75 million years ago, or 10 million years before dinosaurs went extinct.

Though the adult duck-billed dinosaurs are very well represented when it comes to fossil records, Pickles explained that younger animals are much less common. This indicates that the discovery might aid in paleontologists' understanding of how hadrosaurs evolved.

According to scientists, the discovery raises the possibility that the rock contains even more skin that has been preserved and may provide additional information about the appearance of hadrosaurs.

It might take months to collect the entire skeleton, but once it is, the fossil can be prepared for lab analysis to identify the precise species of duck-billed dinosaur.

This would necessitate the discovery of a fossilized skull, though, as the experts pointed out.

It may take several years to fully prepare this specimen for research and display, according to the researchers, given its size and state of preservation, Independent reports.

Natural Mummification

Mummification is the process of purposefully drying out or embalming flesh to preserve the body after death. This typically involved drying out a deceased person's body and desiccating the flesh and organs using chemicals as well as natural preservatives like resin.

Mummification that occurs accidentally or unintentionally is referred to as "natural" mummification. This may occur if a dead body is exposed to dry conditions, extremely low temperatures, or some other environmental element that slows the decay process.

Natural mummification was used to create the oldest mummy ever discovered in North America, which was discovered at Spirit Cave outside of Fallon, Nevada. It was discovered in a shallow grave, wrapped in a Tule mat, and kept intact by the cave's dry environment and rarefied air. The individual, discovered in 1940 and initially estimated to be 1,500-2,000 years old, was later radiocarbon dated during the 1990s, It was then found to be more than 10,000 years old, Live Science reports.