The year is 2012 and Florida Man has struck again. This time, he is accused of the surprisingly sophisticated crime of smuggling a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus battar skeleton out of Mongolia, and selling it at auction for over $1 million dollars. Here's the headline: Florida man pleads guilty in New York to smuggling dinosaur fossils.
The Florida Man in this case is Erik Prokopi, the main character of Page Williams' engaging story The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Quest for Earth's Ultimate Trophy. Williams' text uses Prokopi's case to take a deep dive into the world of paleontology, with an emphasis on amateurs.
A good chunk of Williams' story is spent bringing the reader up to speed on how the field of paleontology developed. This alone makes the book a worthwhile read. Topics like the Central Asiatic Expeditions or the trailblazer Mary Anning were riveting and I can't believe that as an adult I'd never heard of them. I hope to do a deep dive into many of these topics.
I found Williams's exploration of the amateur side of paleontology to be equally fascinating. I buy her argument that dinosaurs make for an easy entry into the world of STEM. My four year old nephew's infatuation for dinos could easily blossom into a love of science.
While listening to the Dinosaur Artist, Shira and I attended a Foster Parent training seminar on teens and screentime. Yes, the pull of devices is strong, but the Dinosaur Artist offers a unique antidote: fossil hunting. In my experience, kids will gladly put down their phones if you can give them real world experiences as profound as finding the remains of prehistoric creatures. I know it was a special thrill for our crew when we found shark teeth at Westmoreland State Park.
The Dinosaur Artist also helped me appreciate the relatively level playing field among expert and amateur paleontologists; a scenario rare in most scientific fields. Many fossil discoveries depend on being in the right place at the right time, rather than say extensive knowledge or specialized equipment. That explains how three kids could find a scientifically interesting T-rex, a feat any professional would be eager to accomplish.
As for Eric Prokopi, Williams unpacks his case: she makes you appreciate that it's more complicated than the headlines suggest. No, he didn't smuggle a skeleton out of Mongolia; he used shady business dealings to buy raw material, which he painstakingly assembled into a masterpiece. Was Prokopi guilty? Definitely. But ultimately, the three month sentence he received seems fair. He crossed ethical lines and allowed privilege to cloud his judgement. But no, he wasn't some cartoon villain looking to rip off the people of Mongolia.
And speaking of Mongolia, it's remarkable how science has turned its unusually large concentration of dinosaur fossils into a new natural resource it can harness. This would be a plus for any country, but is especially critical for one that's as resource-strapped, and geopolitically tenuous as Mongolia. Well played, science.
Perhaps the biggest side effect from the Dinosaur Artist is my fresh appreciation for natural science museums. I'm looking at you, Natural History, Smithsonian. I admit it: I'd gotten desensitized to these amazing exhibits. I now have a fresh appreciation for the effort and artistry that goes into making fossil displays. The kids who are blown away by what they see have the right idea; the science, countless hours of prep, and creativity that goes into crafting a life-like scene should truly be savored.
Williams does an excellent job of showing how dinosaurs and their fossils impact science, business, governments, and young minds. Not bad for a species that went extinct 66 million years ago.
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