Big Al, the famous Allosaurus at the Museum of the Rockies, was a real dinosaur whose fossilized remains were discovered in Wyoming. Over the years, the skeleton has provided significant insights into the life of Allosaurus, a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived during the late Jurassic period.
The story of Big Al begins in 1991 when the nearly complete skeleton was unearthed in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming by a Swiss team led by paleontologist Kirby Siber. Big Al was named after Al Deinlein, the field team member who first spotted the bones. The specimen, scientifically known as MOR 693, was approximately 80% complete, making it one of the most complete Allosaurus fossils ever found.
Big Al was an adolescent Allosaurus and measured about 26 feet (8 meters) in length. The skeleton revealed a life filled with hardships, as numerous injuries and infections were evident on the bones. These included healed fractures, arthritis, and evidence of infection. These findings have helped paleontologists understand the challenges faced by predatory dinosaurs and their ability to survive injuries.
The detailed study of Big Al’s remains has contributed to our knowledge of Allosaurus’ growth patterns, biomechanics, and behavior. The skeleton has been the subject of several documentaries, including the BBC’s “The Ballad of Big Al,” which brought the story of this dinosaur to a wider audience.
Today, Big Al’s remains are an important part of the collection at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, where they continue to be a source of fascination and scientific discovery for both researchers and the public.
