USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum Collaborates With BLM to Expand Fossil Research

The Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum is continuing to grow its role in fossil research through a new collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, with a focus on work at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry at Jurassic National Monument.

As part of the partnership, the museum will prepare and house fossils recently collected from the quarry during a mitigation project ahead of planned construction at the monument. The three-year contract will support this work, including additional staffing and resources needed to safely store these fossils long term.

This partnership plays directly into the museum’s purpose.

“The mission of the Prehistoric Museum is to explain and share the history of life in Eastern Utah,” said Josh Lively, curator of paleontology. “A big part of what we do is serve as caretakers for paleontological and archaeological resources from the state.”

Because many of those resources are located on public lands, Lively said working with the Bureau of Land Management is key.

“Partnerships with the BLM are important for serving our mission as well as protecting resources that belong to all citizens of the United States,” he said. “Museums like ours help ensure those fossils have a permanent home where they can be used for research, education and public understanding.”

The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is one of the most unique fossil sites in the country, known for its dense concentration of Jurassic-era fossils, especially Allosaurus, Utah’s state fossil. With the museum located nearby, it makes sense for USU Eastern to play a larger role in preserving and studying material from the site.

“Because we are the closest museum with a collections facility to the monument, it’s a great opportunity for us to grow our collection from this important fossil site and share it with the local community and tourists alike,” Lively said.

The work builds on discoveries already made by the museum and its team on Bureau of Land Management land, including new fossil sites in the Book Cliffs, the first known instance of juvenile and adult armored dinosaurs found together, and even a freshwater “sea turtle.”

Looking ahead, Lively said bringing more fossils from Cleveland-Lloyd to USU Eastern could also open doors beyond the region.

“Long-term, these fossils will help make us a hub for international researchers interested in this fossil site,” he said.

The partnership is also creating opportunities on campus right now. Funding tied to the agreement will allow the museum to hire another fossil preparator, adding to the team and helping move work forward more efficiently.

“Having another preparator and a third paid paleontologist on staff will be a huge boost to our overall program,” Lively said. “It helps us in the field, in the lab and with education and outreach.”

As the partnership continues, the museum will not only expand its collection but also give students and the community more chances to see real research happening close to home.