09/30/2026
Some of Dinosaur National Monument’s most exciting dinosaur discoveries aren’t in the famous fossil wall. In fact, one of the most surprising finds happened about 1,200 feet from the Carnegie Quarry - where paleontologists uncovered something incredibly rare: two fully intact sauropod skulls.
The discovery belonged to Abydosaurus mcintoshi, a long‑necked giant found in 2000 beneath the sandstone and clay hills near the quarry. Although the monument’s fossil wall showcases eight dinosaur genera, this find revealed that the ancient landscape holds far more secrets.
Abydosaurus stretched about 43 feet from nose to tail, roughly the length of a small bus. It stood out from other sauropods: its short, boxy head was perched high, allowing it to reach treetop foliage. Taller front shoulders and a narrow tail gave it a distinctive profile compared to other long‑necked dinosaurs.
But the skulls are what make this discovery truly special. Out of more than 120 known sauropod genera, only about ten have skulls preserved. These intact skulls provide a rare window into how Abydosaurus lived and ate. With tiny heads and jaws making up just one two‑hundredth of their body volume, they likely didn’t chew. Their teeth acted like rakes-stripping leaves from branches before swallowing them whole.
Next time you visit Dinosaur National Monument, ask a ranger about the dinosaurs you won’t see in the quarry wall. There’s an entire world of discoveries just beyond the fossil wall, waiting beneath your feet.
Image from University of Utah's Natural History Museum showing Abydosaurus McIntoshi: a long-necked sauropod dinosaur with three legs down and the front left leg lifted up. Its front shoulders are much higher than its back hips. It has thick neck and a thin tail. The dinosaur is depicted in various shades of greys.
