Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld - Fossil Fever

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1 / Convincing Uncle Roy

New jeepscheck. Toolscheck.

Freeze-dried foodcheck.

Uncle Roy and I stood behind the Wye Museum of Natural History. Workers were loading supplies into two huge trucks. Uncle Roy watched, checking everything on his list.

Medical kitcheck.

Gosh, I mumbled. This checking stuff takes forever.

Yes, agreed Uncle Roy. But it has to be done. Once were in the desert, our lives could depend on it!

My Uncle Roy runs this museum. Youll never find him in his office, though. Hes always zooming off to strange places in search of treasures. Next week hes leaving for a two-month trip to the Sahara Desert in northern Africa. He doesnt know it yet, but Im going with him.

Plastercheck. Lumbercheck.

Lumber? I asked.

To make crates for the fossils, he said.

I love fossils, I hinted. Especially dinosaur fossils!

Thats what were looking for, said Uncle Roy.

I know, I said. Thats why I want to come with you.

Uncle Roy took his eyes off his clipboard for the first time. He looked me over. You wouldnt have the patience for fossil hunting, he said. Youre too young.

I shrugged. Gee, I guess Ill just have to sit around all summer.

No way, said Uncle Roy. While Im gone, I want you to keep a journal of all the things you see. Thats what scientists do.

A journal? I laughed. I can see it now. Week One: Went to the park. Saw three squirrels. Week Two: Went to the beach. Found a clam

Clams are amazing creatures, said Uncle Roy.

Clams are clams, I said. I want to see dinosaurs. I want to find the biggest dinosaur skeleton yeta giant meat-eater, with teeth as long as carving knives and legs as tall as trees!

The biggest dinosaurs were plant-eaters, said Uncle Roy. The long-necked Sauropods.

See? I said. This trip would be very educational for me. I knew that would get to him. He wants everything I do to be educational.

True, he said. But we wouldnt have time to look after you, Jeff. And it would be hard work. Setting up camp, fixing meals, cleaningnot to mention searching the sand for fossils day after day and keeping a journal record of everything. We might not even find any fossils, you know.

Ill find them! I cried.

And, he went on, its dangerous in the desertsnakes, scorpions, heat

Im brave! I cried.

You wont be able to take a bath or wash your clothes for weeks, he tried.

I was born for this! I shouted.

Okay, okay. He sighed.

I couldnt believe it! Can I really come? I asked.

Well, I have to ask your parents, but maybeif you promise to do your chores and stick close to the crew, he said.

I promise! I cried. I promise.

Yes! I was really going to find a dinosaur!

2 / Off to the Sahara!

On Friday, Uncle Roy locked up the trucks. Their containers were being flown to Algeria where wed meet them in a few days.

Monday morning, Uncle Roy and I and the nine people in our crew boarded our plane. We were on our way!

After we were in the air, I noticed Uncle Roy was studying a map. Is that a map of where were going? I asked.

Not really. Its called a geological map, said Uncle Roy. We know dinosaurs lived between 228 and 65 million years ago. This map shows us where to find rocks of the right age. No one knows exactly where to find dinosaurs, but maps like these help us make good guesses.

He pointed to a spot. Right here, he said, a scientist discovered the skull of the biggest meat-eating dinosaur that ever walked the earth.

Bigger than Tyrannosaurus? I asked.

Yes, said Uncle Roy.

Bigger than Giganotosaurus? I asked.

You do know your meat-eaters, said Uncle Roy. Yes, even bigger than Giganotosaurus. Its called Carcharodontosaurus. That means shark-toothed lizard, he said, showing me a picture.

Are we going to the spot where they found Carch-a-what-a-saurus? I asked.

Uncle Roy drew an X on the map. Here the rocks are from the same period as the rocks where Carch was found. Thats where were going.

Thats where Ill find my meat-eater!

Patience, Jeff. Once we land in Algeria, itll take us about five days to get to In Gall, Uncle Roy said. In Gall is the little town where we planned to start our dinosaur hunt.

Five days? I cried. This plane ride is long enough for me.

Never mind, said Uncle Roy. Youll be so busy keeping your field journal and doing chores, the time will fly.

FIELD JOURNALDAY 1

Drove all morning through fields and farms, then over the mountains and out intoSAND. I have never seen so much sand in all my short life.

At sunset we stopped. The wind started. It blew sand everywhere. Our tents flew. We had to chase them in one of the jeeps!

Scorpions must hate this wind toofound one hiding in my sleeping bag! Yikes!

FIELD JOURNALDAY 2

Onlygasp1,400 more miles to go. More road. More sand. Egads.

FIELD JOURNALDAY 3

Uncle Roy says I should write down everything I see. Sand. Thats what I see. How long does it take to write that? Sand and more sand.

Did I give up clam watching for this?

FIELD JOURNAL-DAY 4

Weve finally crossed into Niger. Stopped at an oasis to gas up the jeeps and fill our water containers.

An oasisthats what they call a town out here. I never thought Id be so happy just to see some buildings and a few people!