Meerkat Prompts: The River of Death
The beautiful forests of Alberta, Canada, hid a secret. Under the rich landscape are thousands of fossils, dating back 72 million years, to the Cretaceous Period, the final epoch of the dinosaurs. What makes this location so remarkable is that the remains are all from the same species, the Pachyrhinosaurus (related to the Triceratops). How did so many of these powerful creatures perish, all in one place?
The prevailing theory, based on the available evidence (and therefore a reasonable assumption) is that a flash flood caught out a migrating herd. The climate of the region was warmer and wetter 72 million years ago, with conditions allowing for the possibility. Unfortunately for so many Pachyrhinosaurs, the possibility became reality, and they were caught up in a torrent they had no chance of avoiding. Worse, they were not especially good in water, being large, heavyset creatures.
This acts as an intriguing reminder that nature can and has enacted devastating disasters, even in prehistoric times. The study of this also highlights the amazing work of palaeontology, and the incredible efforts of scientists and their tools. To unveil the past like this takes dedication, persistence, and years of patience. Discovering what happened on our planet millions of years ago is an astonishing achievement, a testament to what we are capable of as a species, when we are not bogged down by dogma and ignorance.
