Paleontologists Excavated Wyoming T. rex Fossil
A 7,000-pound partial skeleton discovered in the Lance Formation offers rare insights into T. rex preservation.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Geology
Researchers have recovered a 7,000-pound partial sub-adult Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from Wyoming's Zerbst Ranch. The specimen, dated to the 67-million-year-old Lance Formation, is currently undergoing study at the University of Chicago.
Why it matters
This discovery provides a unique look at how specific geological events, potentially including rapid burial during a flood, preserve mummified dinosaur remains in three dimensions. Such findings help refine our understanding of T. rex anatomy and the environmental conditions of the late Cretaceous period.
The specimen weighs 7,000 pounds and originates from the Lance Formation, dated to 67 million years ago. Researchers are currently analyzing the complete hand, forearm, and articulated wishbone for evidence of soft tissue preservation.
The players
University of Chicago
A research institution focused on evolutionary biology and vertebrate paleontology.
Zerbst Ranch
A private property in Wyoming where researchers have previously uncovered mummified dinosaur fossils.
The details
The fossil was extracted from the Lance Formation—a well-known geologic unit in the western United States containing significant dinosaur fossils—and transported to the University of Chicago for analysis. The specimen appears mummified and preserved in three dimensions, a state researchers hypothesize may have resulted from rapid burial during a flood event. Unlike other specimens, this T. rex shows no evidence of scales, a detail that will be central to ongoing laboratory preparation and imaging.
Timeline
67 million years ago: The specimen originated in the Lance Formation.
Early 2027: Expected publication date for research on the fossil.
The Tech Race
This find adds to a broader regional body of paleontological work that bridges geological formations across Wyoming and Montana. It contributes to the active research programs focused on late Cretaceous specimens that define the American West's fossil record.
While the specimen is currently being processed in a lab, the findings will eventually influence regional museum exhibits and public educational programs in Wyoming. The discovery highlights the importance of ongoing fossil preservation efforts on private and state lands.
The takeaway
The study of this 67-million-year-old specimen offers a rare chance to examine mummified dinosaur tissue. Readers should track the University of Chicago’s official research announcements leading up to the anticipated 2027 publication.
What happens next
Research on the fossil is expected to be published in early 2027, marking the first formal peer-reviewed analysis of the specimen's mummified remains.
Further reading
Explore the regional geological context of this find in the Geology archives.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MATR.
