Student unearths 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil on first day of Montana dig: ‘Very exciting’

A150-million-year-old fossilfrom the Jurassic era turned up at a Montana dig site this year — unearthed not by a scientist but by a Connecticut high school student. 

Aidan Connor, a senior at Cheshire Academy in New Haven County, found the ancient bone in Red Lodge, Montana, this summer, according to a news release from the academy. 

With funding from the Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant program, the student traveled west with the Elevation Science Institute as part of a dig that involved teenagers across the country.

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On the first day of the excavation, Connor spotted a pinkie-sized finger bone that likely belonged to asmall dinosaurduring the Jurassic period.

It took the high school senior about an hour to extract the fossil, which is considered relatively quick.The teenager described the experience as “very nerve-wracking.”

Aidan Connor’s summer dig in Red Lodge, Montana, became memorable after he uncovered a Jurassic-era fossil during an expedition.(Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

“A lot of field work, especially paleontology, is trying your hardest not to break very important things,” Connor said, according to the release.

during transport.

“[W]hat we’re most proud of is his polyglot love of learning, and his willingness to combine passion with patience, practice and process.”

�quite exciting.”

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“[It was] very fulfilling for my inner child,” he added.

the school communityis extremely proud of the diligent student.

The week-long excavation allowed the Cheshire Academy student to practice careful fossil handling while preparing specimens for safe removal.(Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

“Our pride in Aidan goes beyond the discovery he made,” said Arison.

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“What we’re most proud of is his polyglot love of learning, and his willingness to combine passion with patience, practice and process.” 

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“Those are essential elements of learning.”

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The dean added that Connor is looking at schools offering majors like paleontology andmuseum studiesand is still considering his options ahead of his graduation next spring.

“[It was] very fulfilling for my inner child,�(Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

The Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant is the school’s way of letting students “do cool stuff,” allowing them to travel across the globe topursue their passions. 

Students have worked on projects in countries like South Africa and Bangladesh, Arison said.

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“Aidan’s work this summer is an excellent example of the ways in which Cheshire Academy helps students unlock not just their potential but themselves,” he added.