AAOD Journal Issue 2

AAOD JOURNAL
ISSUE 2

THE ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

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History of the famous dinosaur stampede trackways at Lark Quarry. A complimentary example article from Issue 2 (14-page, 0.7 MB pdf file).

Journal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

FEATURES

18 THE GHOSTS OF LARK QUARRY
      The memories, people and the history of the world's
      most famous dinosaur trackway
      Story by Donna Meiklejohn

32 IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE
      Small finds, huge discoveries; from beneath the
      black soil plains of western Queensland
      Story by David Elliot

42 PREHISTORIC BEDFELLOWS
      And then there was Mary. The latest in the incredible
      story of Elliot, Australia's largest dinosaur
      Story by Steve Salisbury

48 PORCUPINE GORGE-OUS
      A trek through one of Australia's most beautiful
      national parks
      Story by Bradley Barratt

REGULARS

2 EDITORIAL

4 DIGGERS DIARY

6 ON THE DINOSAUR TRAIL

9    BLACKSOIL
      What Lurks Beneath the Black Soil
      Back on Track
      New Year Celebrations
      Mick the Sauropod
      A Bug's Life
      Ol' Boofhead

16 KIDS LOVE DINOSAURS

58 FOSSIL FACTS
Victoria's Polar Dinosaurs

60 TAIL BONES

OUR COVER
Depicting the scene of the Lark Quarry dinosaur stampede 93 million years ago, a large carnosaur roars a challenge to an approaching foe as it prepares to feed on its kill. The unfortunate victim, a small ornithopod, was snatched from the ranks of a large herd of ornithopods and coelurosaurs as they fled in terror across the muddy flats of the lakeside.
Illustration by Laurie Beirne

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Front Cover: Laurie Beirne.
Blacksoil: Scott Hocknull, Ron McKenzie, Cate McDonald, Ian and Sandra Muir, Dr Alex Cook, Mick and Ally Washington, David and Judy Elliott, Dr Alex Cook, Dr Troy Myers, Kronosaurus Korner.
Kids Love Dinosaurs: Karen Stockham, Winton State School, St Patrick’s School, Evelyn Hoogland.
The Ghosts of Lark Quarry: Donna Meiklejohn, Brett Humphreys, the Seymour family, John and Elinor East, Peter Knowles, Ron McKenzie, Queensland Museum, Dr Mary Wade, Dr Alex Cook, Corfield and Fitzmaurice WTDC, Barry Lark, Winton Shire Council, Bruce and Helen Collins, Longreach Leader, Bill Wilkinson, Bob Hoogland.
In the Name of Science: David and Judy Elliott, Katrina Swan, Brett Humphreys, Scott Hocknull.
Prehistoric Bedfellows: Dr Steve Salisbury et al.
Porcupine Gorge-ous: Bradley Barratt, David and Judy Elliott, Dr Alex Cook, Flinders Discovery Centre, Jenny Milson, Brett Depper, Tim Marsden, Gregory V. Czechura, Dave Akers, John Augusteyn, Qld Dept Primary Industries and Fisheries, Qld Environmental Protection Agency, Vanessa Bailey.
Fossil Facts: Dr Tom Rich, Kaye Dimmack.
Tail Bones: David and Judy Elliott.

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EDITORIAL

It seems like only yesterday that we were pondering over an introduction to our first issue of Australian Age of Dinosaurs, yet here we are in the final stages of our second issue. The year has simply flown!

This year’s issue reflects the hard work and commitment of many people and our heartfelt thanks go to our authors, sponsors, local businesses and numerous volunteers for their help and support in its publication. They say, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person!” That’s exactly what we have done in getting much of this book together and we have not been disappointed.

We have tried to balance this year’s stories between the unique and exciting fossil discoveries of today and the historically significant discoveries of yesteryear with a complementary splash of outback Queensland’s rugged beauty thrown in for good measure. They are by no means comprehensive, nor are they meant to be. Our only intention is to provide our readers with an easy reading, informative journal of our country’s fossil finds before they are lost, forgotten, or buried in the collections of museums all over Australia. Our feature article The Ghosts of Lark Quarry, written by Donna Meiklejohn does exactly that, bringing together the finders, the builders, the visitors and the history of this remarkable phenomenon to make a very enjoyable read.

Numerous people have contributed to this publication and we regret that we cannot fully acknowledge everyone personally in this column, however, one person who must be mentioned is Dr Alex Cook. Alex is the Senior Curator of Geosciences at the Queensland Museum, as well as the Honorary Curator of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs fossil museum in Winton and his efforts toward palaeotourism throughout Queensland are second to none. Alex has contributed to several articles in this year’s book and his knowledge of the geology of western Queensland and the Great Artesian Basin are a credit to his profession and the institution for which he works.

Diggers Diary is a new column, which has drawn a very good response, and we would like to extend an invitation to any of our readers who have found an interesting fossil or attended a fossil dig (it doesn’t really matter where), to drop us a line for next year’s book.

We hope you enjoy our second issue of Australian Age of Dinosaurs. If you do and you would like to receive next year’s edition, please consider subscribing. We’re riding a rollercoaster back through time and we have plenty of spare seats – we’d love you to join us.

Judy and David Elliott