The 20 regions of the world where the most dinosaur bones have been found

In Alberta’s Badlands, Dinosaur Provincial Park has yielded some of the world’s most significant dinosaur fossil discoveries, including dozens of species dating back about 75 million years. The dry, crumbly cliffs expose layers containing bones, so fossils can appear in places that seem empty at first glance but are actually teeming with incredible opportunities for scientific research. 

The Drumheller region is famous for its fossil-rich rock layers, as well as for being home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, located near the outcrops of the Upper Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon Formation. The badlands terrain erodes in a way that can expose bones, teeth, and plant fossils over time.

At Dinosaur National Monument, the Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall features a spectacular wall with approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones still embedded in the rock. The site is associated with the Morrison Formation, a name you’ll hear constantly in the field of dinosaur science in North America.

This Utah quarry is often described as having the highest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur bones ever found, with more than 12,000 bones excavated. The fossils come from a bone bed that remains a subject of debate among scientists, as many remains have accumulated in the same location.

Como Bluff, in Wyoming, helped kick off the famous “bone rush” era of dinosaur collecting, and it is still known for its well-preserved dinosaur bones. The ridge features rock layers that yielded major discoveries during the “Bone Wars,” a 15-year period in the 19th century during which paleontologists engaged in a fierce fossil hunt. 

For more than a century, researchers have been studying the Hell Creek Formation, which preserves some of the last non-avian dinosaurs before the mass extinction. Field studies conducted in certain parts of Hell Creek have uncovered tens of thousands of vertebrate specimens at numerous sites, demonstrating just how rich these rocks can be in fossils.

Ghost Ranch, in New Mexico, is known for the Coelophysis site, where several hundred skeletons have been found in a single assemblage. Scientific studies have described this site as containing an exceptionally high number of individuals of a single dinosaur species—an incredibly rare discovery. 

Zhucheng, in Shandong, is often called “the city of dinosaurs” because of the scale of its fossil discoveries, including major bone deposits and large skeletons on display locally. The collections at the local museum and geopark showcase record-breaking specimens, reflecting the scope of the excavations conducted in the region.

The Jehol fossil beds in northeastern China are famous for preserving dinosaurs and primitive birds in remarkable detail, including, in many cases, feather impressions. The Yixian and related formations have yielded abundant and exceptionally well-preserved fossils that have changed the way people understand the appearance and evolution of dinosaurs.

The Dashanpu fossil site in Sichuan, dating from the Middle Jurassic, is renowned for its significant Jurassic dinosaur remains and its long-term scientific value. This site is linked to the important museum work carried out in Zigong, where the discoveries have helped establish a world-renowned tradition of dinosaur exhibitions.

The Lufeng Basin in Yunnan is widely known for its dinosaur fossils, including numerous excavated specimens and a quarry specially designed for visitors. Reports on the region indicate that dozens of complete fossils have already been recovered, with many more still hidden underground today. 

UNESCO’s Tentative List for Cretaceous sites in the Mongolian Gobi describes the region as the world’s largest repository of dinosaur fossils. This reputation stems from repeated discoveries across multiple formations, including the bones and eggs of famous dinosaurs. Because the desert landscape exposes the rocks clearly, field teams can identify the layers containing fossils without being hindered by vegetation.

The Flaming Cliffs region, also known as Bayn Dzak, is historically significant because of the discoveries made during major expeditions in the early 20th century. It is closely associated with the Djadochta Formation, a fossil-rich unit that has yielded dinosaurs and other animals, as well as some of the earliest famous discoveries of dinosaur eggs.

The Nemegt region is known for its Upper Cretaceous fossil beds, which contain a diverse array of dinosaurs and other ancient animals preserved in the sediments of rivers and floodplains. It is notable for having yielded numerous important fossils over time, including specimens of Tarbosaurus bataar, Deinocheirus mirificus, and Therizinosaurus. 

The Lourinhã Formation, in western Portugal, is widely described as fossil-rich and has yielded dinosaur bones, eggs, and tracks. The coastal cliffs and beaches expose rock layers that researchers can study as erosion reveals new material. It is one of the best-known regions in Europe for its repeated dinosaur discoveries, particularly from the Late Jurassic.

The Natural History Museum describes the Isle of Wight as one of the richest dinosaur fossil sites in the United Kingdom, with discoveries dating back to the early 1800s. Many important fossils come from the Wessex Formation, and researchers continue to identify new specimens as the cliffs erode.

In the late 1800s, a coal mine in Bernissart yielded about thirty relatively complete iguanodon skeletons, a discovery that astonished the scientific world. These fossils, often described as rhino-like reptiles, are widely regarded as one of the best-preserved collections in the world.

Tendaguru is one of Africa’s most famous dinosaur fossil sites, associated with significant early expeditions and vast fossil collections. Tanzanian sources describe enormous quantities of dinosaur fossils collected for study, reflecting the importance and richness of the deposits. Even today, the name “Tendaguru” refers to a fossil site of global significance rather than a small, isolated discovery.

The Kem Kem deposits in eastern Morocco are described in the scientific literature as fossiliferous deltaic sediments from the Cenomanian age, rich in vertebrate remains, including dinosaurs. The region is particularly known for its spectacular predator fossils, often in the form of teeth and bones that outcrop at the surface of the rocks. Although preservation may be fragmentary, the impressive quantity of material is the reason why Kem Kem has become a frequent reference in research and museum collections.

Ischigualasto and the neighboring Talampaya region are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites because they preserve exceptionally complete Triassic terrestrial fossils, including primitive dinosaurs and their relatives. The rocks bear witness to a long period of time and capture important evolutionary transitions, which largely explains why scientists keep returning there. When you hear the phrase “origin of dinosaurs,” Ischigualasto is one of the first places experts mention.