Posted on 02/08/2022 12:46:18 PM PST by Red Badger
Palaeontologists are claiming Utah officials have driven over a precious fossil site after dismantling a boardwalk nearby, possibly irreparably damaging preserved dinosaur footprints and animal tracks. These ancient remnants are extremely delicate and cannot be easily seen, according to sources speaking to Gizmodo, but contain more than 200 dinosaur tracks left by 10 distinct species.
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has since filed a cease-and-desist letter against the US Bureau of Land Management Utah office, calling for the immediate halt of the destruction of Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite near Moab.
The alleged destruction comes as a result of the removal of a worn wooden boardwalk that was constructed around six years ago and has been deemed a "trip hazard". In doing do, heavy machinery is said to have driven over the important archaeological site.
According to the Bureau itself, the site is “one of the most significant early Cretaceous tracksites in the world” and visitors should “avoid walking directly on the track-bearing surface at all times.”
The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, Utah, hosts footprints of up to 10 dinosaur species. Image credit: U.S. Bureau of Land Management “I’m absolutely outraged that the BLM has apparently destroyed one of the world’s most important paleontological resources,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the CBD, in a statement.
“This careless disregard for these irreplaceable traces of the past is appalling. It really calls into question the Bureau’s competence as a land-management agency.”
In a statement sent to various media outlets, including Gizmodo and Fox News, the Utah BLM said it is “committed to balancing resource protection and public access to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, and other public lands managed by the Moab Field Office, which continue to receive high visitation. The Moab Field Office is working to improve safe public access with an updated boardwalk that is designed to protect the natural resources of this site. During that effort, heavy equipment is on location, but it is absolutely not used in the protected area.”
While the Bureau continues to deny claims of site destruction, evidence has appeared that heavy machinery has in fact driven over the tracksite, including a backhoe, resulting in a loss of around 20-30 percent surface destruction according to Twitter sources. It is still unconfirmed whether that is a result of BLM works, but a serious blunder has occurred regardless.
The tire tracks are on the sauropod tracks. There is an iguanadon track there, too. They’re literally driving on these. pic.twitter.com/9hLHK2v5LY
— Jeremy Roberts (@JeremyBRoberts) January 30, 2022 The site remains a unique slice of archaeological importance, and the BLM Utah wishes to continue to make it accessible to the public. In 2021, the BLM approved the replacement of the wooden boardwalk with a more durable concrete and steel replacement, though it is unclear whether the plans will continue in light of the recent supposed site destruction.
This isn't the first time drivers haven't given archaeological sites of unparalleled value their due respect. In February 2018, a truck driver allegedly ignored signs and drove across Peru's famous Nasca lines to avoid paying a toll. In March 2020, a pick-up truck was found crashed into one of Rapa Nui’s (Easter Island) famed moai statues, “seriously damaging” the important cultural relic.
I was thinking the same thing. Exposed to the elements 24/7 is going to do more damage than what appears to be wheeled vehicles for a few days.
Dumbasses.
When was this site discovered? I’m guessing a few decades ago? If scientists can’t find out everything there is to know about a footprint in a few decades, they need to turn in their scientists badges.
UT government and the Feds get along about as well as Crips and Bloods. The Feds own over 50% of the total acreage of the state, and they have been wearing out their welcome for decades.
Thanks Red Badger.
They can't have their cake and eat it, too. Why they would even allow heavy equipment near the place boggles the mind.
All of those sandstone and shale areas in southern Utah have withstood eons of weathering, but heavy equipment driven by mankind will make short work of it all.
Interesting that they didn't mention the even worse damage the Earth First! "activists" did to the Nazca figures.
“And once word gets out that you can’t see anything, folks will just stop going.”
Quite the elegant solution!
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