Bruce Erickson (paleontologist)
Encyclopedia
Bruce R. Erickson is an American
paleontologist and former Chair of Paleontology at the Science Museum of Minnesota
. He retired as Chair of Paleontology in 1996. During the course of his lifetime and his 44 years as a paleontologist, he has "collected about a million specimens" and discovered fifteen new types of plants and ancient animal species. His collection includes "a triceratops
skeleton
" that he discovered in 1961 at the Hell Creek Formation
that is considered to be "one of the rarest in the world". His research has focused almost entirely on the Paleocene
era in history.
began when he was ten years old and he came across a geologist
investigating rocks along the bank of the Mississippi River
.
during the same decade.
The main focus of his career has been on an area in western North Dakota
, where he discovered that the badlands
there had once been a river
and swamp
, "58 million to 60 million years ago". Afterward, the place became known as the Wannagan Creek site
. Just from this area alone, Erickson and the rest of his team have discovered thousands of fossils since they began digging in 1970. The interest in the site began in 1970 after Erickson received a shoe box full of bone sent to him by a rancher's wife. The bones in the shoe box were found to be from six different crocodiles of Paleocene
origin. It was this revelation that caused him to go and investigate the site.
Later in his career, he was involved in a "seven-year research project" at the Chandler Bridge Foundation in the late 1990s that resulted in finding the skeleton of a "28-million-year-old whale".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
paleontologist and former Chair of Paleontology at the Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501 nonprofit institution is staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers...
. He retired as Chair of Paleontology in 1996. During the course of his lifetime and his 44 years as a paleontologist, he has "collected about a million specimens" and discovered fifteen new types of plants and ancient animal species. His collection includes "a triceratops
Triceratops
Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Paleogene...
skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
" that he discovered in 1961 at the Hell Creek Formation
Hell Creek Formation
The Hell Creek Formation is an intensely-studied division of Upper Cretaceous to lower Paleocene rocks in North America, named for exposures studied along Hell Creek, near Jordan, Montana...
that is considered to be "one of the rarest in the world". His research has focused almost entirely on the Paleocene
Paleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
era in history.
Biography
According to Erickson, his interest in paleontologyPaleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
began when he was ten years old and he came across a geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
investigating rocks along the bank of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Career
In the 1960s, Erickson spent his time investigating "crocodile and champsosaur fossils in Alberta, Canada". It was there that he discovered "the oldest known alligator." He was also investigating crocodile fossils in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the same decade.
The main focus of his career has been on an area in western North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, where he discovered that the badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
there had once been a river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
and swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
, "58 million to 60 million years ago". Afterward, the place became known as the Wannagan Creek site
Wannagan Creek site
The Wannagan Creek site is a fossil site found just west of the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park of North Dakota, USA. The site is Paleocene in age, approximately 60 million years old. Paleontologists of the Science Museum of Minnesota have studied the site for nearly thirty years. ...
. Just from this area alone, Erickson and the rest of his team have discovered thousands of fossils since they began digging in 1970. The interest in the site began in 1970 after Erickson received a shoe box full of bone sent to him by a rancher's wife. The bones in the shoe box were found to be from six different crocodiles of Paleocene
Paleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
origin. It was this revelation that caused him to go and investigate the site.
Later in his career, he was involved in a "seven-year research project" at the Chandler Bridge Foundation in the late 1990s that resulted in finding the skeleton of a "28-million-year-old whale".