THE ARLINGTON ARCHOSAUR SITE, A UNIQUE URBAN EXCAVATION AS A SOURCE OF GEOSCIENE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH

The Arlington Archosaur Site (AAS) is a rare urban paleontological excavation site located in the city of Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth, TX. The AAS occurs within the exposed Cretaceous sediments of the Woodbine Formation and preserves a coastal deltaic plain ecosystem. This prolific dig site has produced the fossilized remains of dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, and lungfish along with preserved evidence of their ancient environment. The AAS is actively worked by experts and interested volunteers, including local schools (K-12 and college) and other community organizations. The AAS provides educators and students with a unique opportunity to study the natural world around them while interacting with scientists involved with ongoing science inquiry in a working field laboratory. Research suggests genuine science experiences beyond the traditional walls of a classroom can equalize students’ ability to learn and provide a knowledge base on which educators can build. These experiences can influence future career choices and provide educators with professional development opportunities that advance their own levels of understanding the geosciences.

Visitors to the AAS are given a field trip guide along with a geological & paleontological tour of the site that features sedimentary environments, fossil preservation and ancient ecosystems. Guests observe field practices or participate in an active paleontological excavation. Workshops include an overview of field methods to allow educators an opportunity to excavate or may include hands-on time in the fossil preparation lab learning preservation techniques and receive an introduction to microfossils.

The AAS Education and Outreach Team works very closely with Education Service Center Region XI to provide continuing education to educators and students in the Dallas/Fort Worth region through an in-person lecture series as well as live satellite training from the excavation site. Remote satellite lectures are interactive with two-way communications between lecturers and students. Instruction is developed to reinforce the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). AAS researchers and staff are in high demand to share the excitement and learning opportunities afforded by a unique excavation within an urban environment.