[stormer]

I remember that too. Horner related an exchange he'd had with a colleague:

“These fossils stink” said the colleague.
“Hell Creek fossils ALWAYS stink” Horner replied.

He went on to explain how stupid he felt for not asking the question “why?”.

[editor-surveyor]

“These fossils stink” said the colleague.

The first time that deep black clay is excavated, it always stinks bad! - If it is broken up and allowed to dry out, the stench goes away. The stuff is loaded with rotting organic material.