In 1997, paleontologists Chiappe and Dingus (Discovering Dinosaurs) led an expedition into the remote reaches of Patagonia. Just days into the excursion, the archeologists discovered the remains of a nesting site for a sauropod, a large, four-legged, thick-necked, vegetarian, semi-aquatic dinosaur. Dating back about 80 million years, the giant rookery was strewn with thousands of broken and unhatched fossilized eggs. Besides providing science long-sought proof that sauropods were egg-laying creatures, this field of prehistoric eggs also yielded the first fossils of embryonic dinosaur skin. Although the authors furnish detailed geological and paleontological background information, they write without scientific jargon, fortunately for lay readers. Through the mostly conversational narrative, an intriguing story unfolds that offers insights into the mysteries surrounding this astounding archeological find. When were these eggs laid? What was the ancient geological environment? The climate? What destroyed the nests and eggs? Which predators hunted these local sauropods? The authors take the reader on a tour of deductive and inductive reasoning in order to establish plausible answers to these complex questions. This fascinating description of the vicissitudes of a successful dig—from the exhilaration of an extraordinary skeletal find and the mundane minutiae that dominate a paleontologist's life in the field to the overwhelming and fleeting media response—makes the reader feel like a member of the mission. 8 pages b&w photos; 24 line drawings. Agent, Edite Kroll and Samuel Fleishman, Literary Artists Representatives.(June)
Forecast:Media generated by a touring exhibit of dinosaur eggs will help draw attention to this book. The exhibit will run from May to October at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, before traveling over the next three years to natural history museums in Mesa, Ariz.; Chicago; Atlanta; Berkeley, Calif.; and Portland, Ore.
