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ScienceQuiet 10d · day 11

Utah paleontologists find possible new armored dinosaur species near Arches

A newly opened Cretaceous-era dig near Moab may hold a previously unknown armored dinosaur, which researchers plan to name after a retiring colleague.

newest coverage 10d agosummary written 9d ago5 pieces Google NewsRedditNewswires

What to know

  • A new excavation site near Arches National Park, opened mid-October 2026, has yielded fossils dated to 138-141 million years old.
  • The site may contain a previously unknown species of armored dinosaur, though a formal scientific description has not yet been published.
  • State Paleontologist Jim Kirkland plans to name the species after longtime colleague Don DeBlieux, who is retiring at the end of 2026 after 25 years working together.

Jim Kirkland Utah State PaleontologistDon DeBlieux Assistant State PaleontologistUtah Geological Survey State agency overseeing the excavation

Utah paleontologists find possible new armored dinosaur species near Arches
Newsweek

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 3h at Oct 28, 1 PM; 5 pieces over 11 days (4 articles · 1 post) Oct 28, 1 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Google News 3, Reddit 1Oct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 10 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 29, 1 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — quietOct 30, 1 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 10 AM — quietOct 30, 1 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 1 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quiet 12
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  1. 2

    Newsweek details naming plans and retirement context

    Newsweek reports that Utah State Paleontologist Jim Kirkland is describing and naming the possible new species in honor of Assistant State Paleontologist Don DeBlieux, with the dig likely being the pair's final field season together before DeBlieux retires at the end of 2026.

    “may hold the key to understanding a major evolutionary turning point.”
    — Utah Geological Survey
    1. 1 outlet New Possible Dinosaur Species Discovered In Dig Near National Park

      first by Newsweek, 10d ago

  2. 1

    Outlets report possible new armored dinosaur species found at site

    SFGATE and ABC4 Utah report that paleontologists believe they may have found remains of a previously unknown armored dinosaur at the new excavation site.

    1. 1 outlet Paleontologists discover possible new dinosaur species in new excavation site near Moab

      first by ABC4 Utah, 10d ago

    2. 1 outlet Near Arches National Park, a new dinosaur species emerges from the ground

      first by SFGATE, 10d ago

  3. background

    Utah Geological Survey opens new excavation site near Moab — UGS officially opened a new fossil excavation site near Arches National Park, geologically similar to the nearby Doelling's Bowl site, estimated to be 138-141 million years old.