There are many ways to conduct an experiment or to answer a question, and studies on dinosaurs are great examples of that. By investigating these ancient creatures we are learning more about the world around us, and our own origins. Although dinosaurs went extinct around 65 million years ago, there is still so much for us to discover about them– and many different approaches to do it. Whilst dinosaur fossils are helpful for seeing what creatures would have looked like, they don’t tell us much about their behaviour. This is where prehistoric poo can come in handy. A fossilised poo is called a coprolite, they tend to be rarer than bones because they don’t fossilise well. Finding coprolites reveals information about the conditions at the time, as the poo would have to be covered in minerals not long after it was produced in order to be preserved. Dinosaur coprolites have been dated back to as far as the Cretaceous period (146-65 million years ago).
It isn’t just poo that can reveal surprises about the nature of dinosaurs. Alongside coprolites in a clay pit in Poland some scientists found ‘regurgitates’ – fossilised vomit! 200 million years ago a carnivorous dinosaur’s vomit was preserved. The Smok Wawelski was the dinosaur in question, based on footprints and fossilised bones found nearby. Inside the petrified poo and vomit they found bone fragments and broken teeth, suggesting that these dinosaurs were bone crunchers. 3D imaging using synchrotron microtomography showed that some of the dinosaur’s teeth were in the vomit, meaning that it could have swallowed some of its own teeth whilst eating its prey. These teeth were Identified due to the grinding nature of the dinosaurs’ eating behaviour, suggesting some teeth would break whilst it ate its prey. Dinosaurs share some traits with birds, owls regularly regurgitate pellets of indigestible food, this dinosaur appears to show a similar characteristic. Dinosaurs have long since left planet Earth. With many traces of their existence disappearing, it can be difficult to build a realistic picture of what their lives could have been like. However, by continuing to find innovative experiments – even if it’s as glamorous as studying ancient poo and vomit – and looking where you might not expect, fantastic things can be discovered. “I enjoy thinking and harnessing my curiosity to ask lots of questions about the world around us. There are many phenomena which we encounter everyday but might not necessarily understand.”
About the contributor
Louise Weightman is a dedicated science communicator with a master’s degree in Physics and Space Science. She has worked in science communication for over two years, taking part in science demonstrations, school workshops and outreach events.
The original pages
As published in Issue 1: A World of Possibility. Click any page to view it full size.
First published in Issue 1: A World of Possibility, the Innately Science newspaper.