Law and Order: the Ancient World

Beyond Ancient

The tar sands of Northern Alberta can be a rough and tumble place, but its still rare to come across a body.

So when it happens, they call in an expert.

In this case, they called in a paleontologist, because the body was that of a dinosaur, and it was to revolutionize everything we thought about dinosaurs.

To picture this creature, imagine a turtle, but the size and weight of a mid-sized car. The shell is made of interlocking plates, and to add to the defense the creature has a row of spikes running down either side of its body.

The mouth presents no danger, its beak-like shaped designed to grab and chew leaves, not other animals.

But it did have one offensive weapon - a tail with a club at the end made of solid bone which the creature could use to break bones if needed.

Once its body was released from the tar sands, the scientists realized it was one of the best preserved specimens ever found, so much so they could see what it had for its last meal, but how that could come to be took a while to solve.

Eventually, they put together what they think happened.

Imagine hundreds of millions ago, you are the tank-like beast, enjoying a typical day in the swampy forest that is your home.

But this swamp hides one unexpected danger, a cliff that hangs above a river, and somehow, you stumble, and fall over the edge, and landing in the water upside down.

Like modern turtles, you would have a tough time turning back over, but what made it impossible was the water rushing into your lungs.

You die, and settle to the bottom, soon being covered in silt.

But your bad luck made it so scavengers couldn't get at your body, and the cool water and the silt worked to preserve you until you are found so long after by oil workers, and soon you are famous in scientific circles and maybe even beyond.

While the original body is on display at the Royal Terrel Museum, copies have been made, and sent to museums around the world.

So if you wanted to, you could go see one of these if one is on display near you.

If you do, I wonder if like me, you will take a moment to look at this almost time traveler, this massive beast that would have preferred to keep eating plants and maybe find a mate in peace, only to fall victim to a random accident, and see something of yourself in it.

Or maybe that's just me . . .

End