Dinosaur 13
In 1990, a massive fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex was discovered in the Badlands of South Dakota. This fossil was discovered by a man named Peter Larson, a paleontologist who studied at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The fossil was later the center of much controversy involving who the fossil belonged to.
The story of this fossil’s discovery and controversy was later made into a documentary, that was featured at the Sundance film festival in 2013. This independent film importantly brings this story to audiences that wouldn’t normally know a thing about paleontology or the power struggles involving fossils.
The Movie
Dinosaur 13 was released in theaters on August 15, 2014. This documentary depicts the battle to possess a 65 million year-old Tyrannosaurus rex Skeleton, and it was directed and produced by Todd Miller. This film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, and it attracted a lot of attention at the festival including interest from: Lionsgate, IFC, HBO, Netflix, and Magnolia Pictures.
Soon after the festival, Dinosaur 13 was purchased by Lionsgate Entertainment Corp. for around 1 million dollars. This is considered a very large profit for an independent film like this. Larson, and others involved in this film, were happy to have a large company take the film to see a wider audience.
Discovery of the Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton
The fossil depicted in Dinosaur 13 is considered the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. The skeleton was discovered in the badlands of South Dakota, by Peter Larson and his team from the Black Hills Institute, on August 12, 1990.
Controversy
About two years after the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was found, FBI and National Guard showed up to claim the skeleton. Larson and his team fought hard to keep the skeleton at the Black Hills Institute, where it could be studied. The team ended up fighting many groups for control of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
The United States government wanted the skeleton, claiming Larson had not filled out the proper forms to unearth the fossil on federal land (where it was discovered). Many world-class museums wanted the it as a display piece, many Native American tribes wanted the skeleton to return to the once sacred grounds of which it came, and many competing paleontologists wanted the skeleton to claim the credit for doing research with the T-rex.
Overall, the struggle to keep this monumental find was great, and Larson eventually lost control of the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton to the United States government.
The Impact of the Dinosaur 13
Dinosaur 13 is a must see film to learn about an important event concerning the history of South Dakota and an important discovery for the study of life before humans. It shows the struggles that paleontologist Peter Larson had to go through involving one of the world’s greatest paleontological finds: the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found.
In 1990, a massive fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex was discovered in the Badlands of South Dakota. This fossil was discovered by a man named Peter Larson, a paleontologist who studied at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The fossil was later the center of much controversy involving who the fossil belonged to.
The story of this fossil’s discovery and controversy was later made into a documentary, that was featured at the Sundance film festival in 2013. This independent film importantly brings this story to audiences that wouldn’t normally know a thing about paleontology or the power struggles involving fossils.
The Movie
Dinosaur 13 was released in theaters on August 15, 2014. This documentary depicts the battle to possess a 65 million year-old Tyrannosaurus rex Skeleton, and it was directed and produced by Todd Miller. This film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, and it attracted a lot of attention at the festival including interest from: Lionsgate, IFC, HBO, Netflix, and Magnolia Pictures.
Soon after the festival, Dinosaur 13 was purchased by Lionsgate Entertainment Corp. for around 1 million dollars. This is considered a very large profit for an independent film like this. Larson, and others involved in this film, were happy to have a large company take the film to see a wider audience.
Discovery of the Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton
The fossil depicted in Dinosaur 13 is considered the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. The skeleton was discovered in the badlands of South Dakota, by Peter Larson and his team from the Black Hills Institute, on August 12, 1990.
Controversy
About two years after the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was found, FBI and National Guard showed up to claim the skeleton. Larson and his team fought hard to keep the skeleton at the Black Hills Institute, where it could be studied. The team ended up fighting many groups for control of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
The United States government wanted the skeleton, claiming Larson had not filled out the proper forms to unearth the fossil on federal land (where it was discovered). Many world-class museums wanted the it as a display piece, many Native American tribes wanted the skeleton to return to the once sacred grounds of which it came, and many competing paleontologists wanted the skeleton to claim the credit for doing research with the T-rex.
Overall, the struggle to keep this monumental find was great, and Larson eventually lost control of the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton to the United States government.
The Impact of the Dinosaur 13
Dinosaur 13 is a must see film to learn about an important event concerning the history of South Dakota and an important discovery for the study of life before humans. It shows the struggles that paleontologist Peter Larson had to go through involving one of the world’s greatest paleontological finds: the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found.