Why is the Pipestone Creek Bonebed significant?

Located along the Pipestone Creek approximately 19 km south of the village of Wembley in the County of Grande Prairie #1 in Northwest Alberta. The Pipestone Creek dinosaur bone bed has yielded over 3500 complete bones and individual bones from more than 40 animals. The site has not been fully excavated and has the potential to yield additional palaeontologically significant fossils. Construction of a lightweight coverall building is scheduled for the site in the near future.

The bonebed is recognized as a significant palaeontological discovery that has drawn the attention of renowned scientists, and the Museum will be the regional centre of excellence for further exploration and interpretation of the many palaeontological sites and resources in the region, adding to the prehistoric story of Northwest Alberta.

Discovered in 1974 by Al Lakusta it is the northernmost occurrence of pachyrhinosaurus known in Alberta. The Pipestone Creek bonebed is one of the world's top 5 richest dinosaur bonebeds and the best horned dinosaur location in the world. Dated 72.25 million years old it is dominated by Pachyrhinosaurus, a horned dinosaur. It contains a very high density of bone materials representing hundreds of individual animals. The bonebed is monogeneric; meaning that 99.9% of the bones belong to the same species. The presence of different sized individuals of Pachyrhinosaurus may be an indication of gregariousness or herding.

Why the Pipestone Creek bonebed site is palaeontologically significant:

• It is the northernmost occurrence of Pachyrhinosaurus in Canada and the northernmost monogeneric (dominated by one species) dinosaur bonebed presently known in Alberta.
• The bonebed contains a very high density of Pachyrhinosaurus bone material, representing numerous individuals (over 100 bones per sq. m. compared to 20 to 60 bones per sq. m. at other significant sites.)
• The presence of different-sized individuals of Pachyrhinosaurus may be an indication of gregariousness or herding.
• Skulls of Pachyrhinosaurus collected from this site preserve a unique cranial feature not seen in previously collected specimens and in 2008 was confirmed as a new species.
• Theropod (carnivorous) dinosaur remains have also been preserved at the site, which may indicate that the Pachyrhinosaurus carcasses were scavenged prior to burial and subsequent fossilization.
• It is the first co-occurrence of insects in amber and dinosaur bones.