Dino Excavation!

One of the biggest hits for Christmas this year was a Smithsonian T-Rex excavation kit (thank you, Grandpa Marty and Grandma Bobbey!).  Right out of the box it is a pretty cool plaster/stone cast that you chip away with the supplied Paleontologist tools to reveal dinosaur bones that are ultimately assembled into a full skeleton.   But if Liam really wants to be a Paleontologist he needs to realize that prehistoric fossils are not simply pulled out of boxes found under Christmas trees...you gotta get dirty and dig for them.  On 27 DEC, we got some perfect dinosaur digging weather so I (Zeke here) buried the bones in the backyard and sent Liam out exploring to find the excavation site.  Of course we didn't send him out in the wild alone and unprepared; he had a full day's supply of water, MREs, and his hard hat.  I also gave him the technological advantage that we enjoy so much in combat - the ability to see into the invisible spectrum of light (specifically thermal and IR), a device acquired from hypothetical unsanctioned activities in distant lands.  So, armed with the same vision capabilities as the Predator (from the 1987 classic film) , Liam began his hunt.

He scanned the yard vigorously from different vantage points in order to locate the distinct heat signature that is only given from  miniature Tyrannosaur bones.  Once located, he used his specially engineered fossil rake and shovel to unearth this beast.

**Admin note -- I realize that the item he dug up in the yard looks like a package of uncut heroin; however, the aluminum foil was necessary for the thermal effect.  We are in no way involved in the opium game.**

After the initial retrieval and clearing of the site, we moved indoors and set up our workstation (and yes, Liam took his pants off. He has been in a no-pants kind of mood lately. Whatever.).  We chipped and dusted, chiseled and cleaned, until all the bones were revealed and assembled into a perfect little T-Rex skeleton!  Not only was it fun-filled educational experience; we were later contacted by the real Smithsonian Museum because it turns out that the skeleton Liam discovered was actual size.  The Westminster Kennel Club has also been beating down our door.  Something about genetically engineering the newest fad in pet breeds.

Liam is now fully convinced there are other dinosaur skeletons in our backyard. Namely, a velociraptor is rumored to be hanging around somewhere.  Be sure to check out the rest of the pics HERE.