In the serene landscapes of North Dakota, an astonishing discovery is challenging what we know about Earth’s history. Scientists have unearthed remarkably well-preserved dinosaur fossils, including a complete leg with intact skin, at the Tanis fossil site.

What sets these findings apart is their connection to the day when a colossal asteroid struck, signaling the end of the age of dinosaurs and the dawn of mammals.

A Glimpse into the Cataclysmic Past

The claim is that the creatures found at Tanis met their demise and were preserved on the very day when a massive asteroid, approximately 12 kilometers in diameter, struck Earth. This event, which unfolded 66 million years ago, marked a pivotal transition in the Earth’s history.

What makes this claim even more extraordinary is the scarcity of dinosaur remains from the period leading up to the asteroid impact.

Sir David Attenborough’s Exploration

The BBC has dedicated over three years to document these incredible findings at Tanis, culminating in a show narrated by the renowned Sir David Attenborough, set to air on April 15th. The program will introduce these unique discoveries to the public for the first time.

Among them, the preserved leg of a dinosaur, skin from a triceratops, and even a fragment believed to be from the asteroid itself.

A Glimpse into a Prehistoric Time Capsule

Tanis offers a remarkable record of the events leading up to the asteroid’s impact, giving us a glimpse into the interactions between various species and the Late Cretaceous ecosystems. The fossils narrate a story of the tumultuous aftermath of the asteroid strike, with aquatic and land-based creatures entangled in a chaotic jumble.

Traces of Catastrophe

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence is the presence of sturgeon and paddlefish fossils containing tiny particles of molten rock, spherules, which were ejected from the asteroid impact in Mexico. This evidence strongly links the Tanis site to the asteroid strike and offers insights into the nature of the impactor.

Challenging Scientific Norms

The Tanis findings, their significance, and the claims surrounding them first came to public attention in the New Yorker Magazine in 2019, defying the conventional path of scientific discovery. A few peer-reviewed papers have been published, and the research team is meticulously working to confirm their discoveries.

Skin Deep Insights: Dinosaur’s Scaly Past

Professor Paul Barrett from London’s Natural History Museum examined a Thescelosaurus dinosaur leg. These findings revealed that these dinosaurs were scaly, resembling lizards, and not feathered, providing valuable insights into the biology and appearance of these ancient creatures.

The Tanis fossil site continues to uncover Earth’s past and its crucial moments, offering a glimpse of the day when dinosaurs made way for mammals. This story, spanning millions of years, highlights the profound impact of cosmic events on our planet’s history.