Fighting Dinos Exhibition

AMNH, New York, 2000



In addition to the famous Fighting Pair, there are a number of other interesting fossils in this exhibition.

Unfortunately my pictures of the others didn't come out too well, since, contrary to what some said, the lighting of the smaller exhibits was rather low-level. Even making use of Tracy's 1600 ASA film, I found it impossible to take small aperture shots so that everything was in focus. However, I am sure Tracy's got loads of excellent pics, and hopefully we'll see those on the web eventually.

There is also a diorama including the two involved in the pair, a brooding oviraptorid, and an alvarezsaurid. The Protoceratops is furless (perhaps correctly) but ok. The other three are extremely impressive. Hopefully I will include my photos of those later in this section.

Also there is a computer generated film clip of the encounter which is superb, and has real "bear-like" fur on the Velociraptor. I've never seen CG fur before, but this clip sets new standards.

In the main entrance lobby, the recently-retrieved Icarosaurus fossil is displayed. I unfortunately forgot that I had wanted to have a good close look at a non-bony plume type thing in the top right hand sector, but it wouldn't have mattered since the specimen had so little light falling on it that not only was it too dark to photograph but it was too dark to see. "I didn't say anything..." ... but a quick 180 wouldn't hurt; at least that way it would catch the morning sun.





It's good to know that the business of knowledge engineering would seem to be closely associated with palaeontology!

Teddy Roosevelt's presence is strongly felt both inside and outside the museum. I don't think it would be out of place for Mark Norell's name to appear on the wall which commemorates major museum workers over the years (one day). The local subway station is splendidly decorated with palaeo icons which I may put into this site later.

I considered my visit well worthwhile; although in due course most of the specimens will be nicely published no doubt, a sight of something like the fighting pair in the flesh is more than any palaeoperson could ever reasonably hope for. And the town's much nicer now too. It ain't Kojakville no more.





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