The very beginning of the Cretaceous Period was completely unknown — a ‘blank spot on the map,’ so to speak — until intensive study of the Cedar Mountain Formation began around 1990.  Paleontologists from various museums and other institutions began to realize that the Cedar Mountain provides a globally unique record of life at the ‘Dawn of the Cretaceous,’ highlighting a major and apparently sudden turnover from the famous Late Jurassic ecosystems of the Morrison Formation (think Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, and Allosaurus) into one dominated by armored ankylosaurs, beaky iguanodonts, and sickle-clawed killers like Utahraptor.  Eastern Utah is the only place where the Cedar Mountain Formation exists, and indeed the only place in the world where dinosaurs and other land animals from the lowermost Cretaceous have ever been found.

Since in-depth exploration of these rocks began in the 1990s, the Cedar Mountain Formation has yielded 27 new published dinosaur species (including the now-famous Utahraptor), effectively doubling the number of different dinosaurs known from Utah beforehand.  As of 2026, at least a dozen new-to-science dinosaur species have already been excavated and await publication — while dozens more certainly remain undiscovered in these rocks.

We are a group of paleontologists, students, dinosaur dig volunteers, and adventurers dedicated to the preservation and scientific study of Utah’s unique and world-class fossil heritage.

The fossils of the Cedar Mountain Formation are under continuous threat from vandalism and fossil poaching — and with each skeleton having such a high likelihood of being a species new to science (as the track record so far indicates), the struggle to protect these unique fossil resources is an important one.  Using Oregon’s John Day Fossil Beds National Monument as inspiration, we have concluded that the designation of a new national monument is the best way to protect these areas while ensuring the continued excavation and scientific study of these unique paleontological sites.

As outlined in the prospectus document, we propose to protect 52.2 square miles — less than one tenth the size of Canyonlands — in four non-contiguous areas.  As Jim likes to say, We don’t want to fence in the whole county — only the ‘honey holes!’— just enough to protect and study these unique fossil sites.

Eastern Utah is already a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, and the “Mighty 5” national parks — Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion — together draw roughly ten million visitors each year.  This popularity has led to severe overcrowding, long lines, and visitors being turned away at the entrances.  We posit that Dawn of the Cretaceous will serve as a ‘release valve,’ helping to take the pressure off other destinations while further contributing to the tourism draw of eastern Utah.  It’s also easy to envision the economic benefit to Grand and Emery counties — with additional tourism comes the opportunity to provide more lodging, more travel necessities, and thus more jobs in communities like Thompson Springs, Cisco, and Green River.

Yes!  Although ‘Dawn of the Cretaceous’ is currently still a dream, we encourage members of the public to experience the desert landscapes of the Cedar Mountain Formation.  For the most outdoorsy, Bureau of Land Management land is open for camping in and around the proposed monument, as per BLM regulations.  For a less rugged experience, we recommend staying at Utahraptor State Park north of Moab, or at Ballard RV Park in Thompson Springs.

We’re still in the earliest stages of our project, so getting the word out is our primary focus right now.  If you’d like to help, please tell your friends and family about our proposal, share this site in your social circles, and feel free to contact us if you think you may be able to help further.