When you think of dinosaur digs, New Jersey strip malls probably don’t come to mind. Yet, in Mantua Township, tucked behind a shopping center, paleontologists have uncovered one of the most remarkable fossil sites in the country. A place some experts call a prehistoric jackpot.
The Garden State may not be the first place most people imagine for fossil hunting, but history proves otherwise. New Jersey was home to the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton ever discovered back in 1858, as well as the first recognized Tyrannosaur, known as Dryptosaurus. Now, the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum at Rowan University has taken that legacy and built it into one of the nation’s most unique destinations for dinosaur enthusiasts and families alike.
Millions of Years Beneath a Shopping Center
Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, a South Jersey native and world-renowned paleontologist, has traveled across the globe digging for dinosaurs. But his most astonishing finds came from the quarry near where he grew up. Over the last 18 years, more than 100,000 fossils from over 100 species have been unearthed here, offering a rare look into life at the end of the dinosaur age.
The site officially opened to the public in March as the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, inviting visitors to dig for real fossils, tour immersive exhibits, and learn how prehistoric history can shape the future. The mission, Lacovara says, is bigger than science alone: by uncovering the past, we can inspire action for a better tomorrow.
The Man Behind the Discoveries
Lacovara himself has made headlines for unearthing some of the largest dinosaurs ever found, including the 65-ton Dreadnoughtus, which later appeared in Jurassic World: Dominion. His resume reads like a list of modern exploration legends: recipient of The Explorers Club Medal (previously awarded to Neil Armstrong and Jane Goodall), a TED Talk viewed more than five million times, and a book (Why Dinosaurs Matter) that won the Nautilus Book Prize. He has also appeared in over 20 television documentaries and has been recognized three times in Discover magazine’s “Top 100 Science Stories of the Year.”
Why It Matters
What makes Mantua’s fossil park so extraordinary is the accessibility. Instead of being hidden away in remote deserts or behind academic walls, this dig site sits in the middle of suburban New Jersey, open to the public. Visitors can walk the same ground where scientists are piecing together ancient history, making the story of dinosaurs not just a subject in textbooks, but something you can see and touch.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.