Disappearing dinosaur fossils in the Gobi desert

Jan 10, 2017

Disappearing dinosaur fossils in the Gobi desert

Matt Bracken 0 Comment The Baltimore Sun

For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago.

: This aerial picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This aerial picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This aerial picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows two tourists on the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows a girl with a bottle standing on top of the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan licking a stone to test if its a fossil near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan trying to get signal for her mobile phone next to a yurt near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan trying to find fossils near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan trying to get signal for her mobile phone in a yurt near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan (L) and herder Gelegrash talking in a yurt near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on June 27, 2016 shows national park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan sitting in a car near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on July 2, 2016 shows tourists look at the Tyrannosaurus Bataar skeleton in a museum in Ulan Bator. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

: This picture taken on July 2, 2016 shows people visiting a museum displaying dinosaur fossils returned from overseas in Ulan Bator. For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews — supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones — discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Darkroom offers Facebook and WordPress commenting in the hopes of fostering constructive conversation among our users. Please abide by our Terms of Service when commenting on the site.

Categories