November 11, 2022

TCHINEKANKARAM, NIGER — One mile long, rising as barren rock no more than 10 feet above a parched plain of patchy grass and thorny acacia, is an area known as Tchinekankaran (chin-kan-karan), or “place of insects” in Tamasheq, the language of Tuareg nomads. True to its name, voracious scorpions, wind spiders and praying mantises dueled under our camp lights, but we came for the sea of fossil bones peeking from rocks nearby.

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Unearthing Africa’s giants — and an ancient calamity

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Excavating a thigh bone (femur) of the new dinosaur weighing in at around 500 pounds, 'Pako’ (Francesc Gascó, left) and Grace Broderick (right) chip away the rock entombing the largest bone in its skeleton. Photo courtesy of Paul Sereno.


Sketching a fleshed-out version of the new dinosaur ‘Ipod’ in his field book, Spanish paleontologist 'Pako’ (Francesc Gascó) engages his artistic talents during a meal break. Photo courtesy of Paul Sereno.


A subadult (‘teen’) skeleton of the new dinosaur ‘Ipod’ is excavated by Spanish team members (left to right) Noelia Sanchez, Arturo Gamonal and Frenscesc Gascó. Photo courtesy of Paul Sereno.


Excavating a fossil giant, Spanish paleontologist Dan Vidal and Paul Sereno use tools that range from small brushes to jackhammers. Photo courtesy of Keith Ladzinski.


Excavating a fossil giant, Spanish paleontologist Dan Vidal and Paul Sereno use tools that range from small brushes to jackhammers. Photo courtesy of Keith Ladzinski.


Relaxing in a comfortable curve of the just-tipped field jacket surrounding the neck of the new dinosaur ‘Ipod,’ paleontology student Grace Broderick takes a moment to relax in the heat of a Saharan midday. Photo courtesy of Paul Sereno.

Unearthing Africa’s giants — and an ancient calamity Image

The excavation scene of a small skeleton of the long-necked dinosaur dubbed ‘Ipod’ on a parched, rocky plain in Niger.