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The Bone Hunters: The Heroic Age of Paleontology in the American West
A century after the founding of the Republic, the United States was a leader in the science of vertebrate paleontology — the study of the fossils of backboned animals. In this lucid, nontechnical study, a noted popularizer of science and former curator at the Museum of the University of Colorado first reviews the geology of the western United States and provides an overview of American paleontology since the days of Thomas Jefferson.
Dr. Lanham next focuses on the paleontologists themselves and the astounding fossil discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of vertebrate evolution. You'll learn how nineteenth-century paleontologists struggled against hostile Indians, scorching summers and frigid winters, loneliness, isolation, lack of funds and other hardships as they excavated tons of fossil bones from beds and quarries in South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and other areas. While many eminent scientists are profiled, including Samuel Williston, John Bell Hatcher, Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden, and Joseph Leidy, much of the book is devoted to the explorations and achievements of Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. These two brilliant paleontologists, whose discoveries revolutionized the discipline, eventually became bitter rivals and the central figures in one of the most notorious scientific feuds of the century.
These and many other aspects of 19th-century paleontology are covered in this fascinating and readable book. Easily accessible to the layman, The Bone Hunters will appeal to any reader interested in the behind-the-scenes drama and inspired scientific fieldwork that resulted in an explosion of knowledge about the nature and evolution of the prehistoric animals that once roamed the American West.
Dr. Lanham next focuses on the paleontologists themselves and the astounding fossil discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of vertebrate evolution. You'll learn how nineteenth-century paleontologists struggled against hostile Indians, scorching summers and frigid winters, loneliness, isolation, lack of funds and other hardships as they excavated tons of fossil bones from beds and quarries in South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and other areas. While many eminent scientists are profiled, including Samuel Williston, John Bell Hatcher, Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden, and Joseph Leidy, much of the book is devoted to the explorations and achievements of Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. These two brilliant paleontologists, whose discoveries revolutionized the discipline, eventually became bitter rivals and the central figures in one of the most notorious scientific feuds of the century.
These and many other aspects of 19th-century paleontology are covered in this fascinating and readable book. Easily accessible to the layman, The Bone Hunters will appeal to any reader interested in the behind-the-scenes drama and inspired scientific fieldwork that resulted in an explosion of knowledge about the nature and evolution of the prehistoric animals that once roamed the American West.
304 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2015
I enjoy learning about history but reading a history textbook is not high on my “Must Read” list. I took the minimum required Science classes to obtain my degree(s) and neither of those were the study of Paleontology, Geology, Zoology or Botany and the archeology class I had was without a lab experience. So when it was recommended that I read this book in preparation for an adventure in the near future, it was a good thing that I was unaware that it was a history textbook that covers the beginning of the discipline of American vertebrate Paleontology which requires a rudimentary understanding of Geology, Zoology and Botany. Had I known it contained such information I fear I would have not been as open to the delight I found in reading of the early, exploratory, often conflictual days of American archeology and Paleontology.
Dr. Lanham takes a topic that can be dry and writes of dates, people, places and events with such clarity and enthusiasm that it reads more like a novel than a primer for college introductory to science course. When dinosaur bones were discovered in the Western United States, they were so plentiful that seekers could, and did, walk along and pick up bones by the ton. When explorers began seeking these fossils in the mid-1800’s, there was a rush to find as many “new” fossils as possible; as with all discoveries, those who get the “find” get to “name;” many of the bones (fossilized) found had to be classified and given a scientific name. Those who achieve such honors bring fame to both the fossils and the finder. In the 1860’s through the early decades of the 1900’s, the news of this new science and its scientists made the front pages of major New York newspapers.
The major players seeking to be given credit for their discoveries, often at the expense of each other, were Othniel Charles Marsh, the son of impoverished Massachusetts merchants and the nephew of the “fabulously rich” George Peabody and Edward Drinker Cope, a Pennsylvania Quaker whose family had obtained a large amount of wealth through farming and other endeavors. Both men distinguished themselves as excellent scientists and pioneers in the field of American vertebrate paleontology, they also became mortal enemies in seeking to be recognized as The Paleontologist of the United States. The feud that ensued over “who discovered what, when” largely ruined both of their reputations and was so harsh that neither lived beyond ten years after the dust settled.
Dr. Lanham is thorough in laying the ground work for the reader to understand the placement and time-frame for the books’ complicated subject matter. He names the important participants in the development of this science, framing their contribution to its advancement and how their work played into the Marsh/Cope feud. He does not do as well in detailing the early work of archeology in finding these (now) World-Famous fossils. By the turn of the 20th Century, the fossils were no longer “just laying around by the ton” as they were forty years earlier but the difficult, often dangerous work (at the onset of these searches, the “Indian” and Range Wars were in full swing), those collecting them endured is merely alluded to. He is even-handed in describing the contributions both Cope and Marsh made to the expansion of a new science and to the viciousness with which they attacked each other.
The book was published in 1973 and the language and writing style is a bit dated but not to the extent that it is a distraction to reading it easily. There is no vulgar language, sexual situation or violence to be found in its pages even though the early days of these adventurers was during the Indian and Range Wars of the American West.
I doubt this book will be made into a movie, and that is a shame. The story has excitement to match Indiana Jones, breath-taking scenery, characters that are honest and vile enough to create tremendous drama and a plot that takes place from the “horse and wagon” days of the old west to the present day. I would buy a ticket to see it.
Dr. Lanham takes a topic that can be dry and writes of dates, people, places and events with such clarity and enthusiasm that it reads more like a novel than a primer for college introductory to science course. When dinosaur bones were discovered in the Western United States, they were so plentiful that seekers could, and did, walk along and pick up bones by the ton. When explorers began seeking these fossils in the mid-1800’s, there was a rush to find as many “new” fossils as possible; as with all discoveries, those who get the “find” get to “name;” many of the bones (fossilized) found had to be classified and given a scientific name. Those who achieve such honors bring fame to both the fossils and the finder. In the 1860’s through the early decades of the 1900’s, the news of this new science and its scientists made the front pages of major New York newspapers.
The major players seeking to be given credit for their discoveries, often at the expense of each other, were Othniel Charles Marsh, the son of impoverished Massachusetts merchants and the nephew of the “fabulously rich” George Peabody and Edward Drinker Cope, a Pennsylvania Quaker whose family had obtained a large amount of wealth through farming and other endeavors. Both men distinguished themselves as excellent scientists and pioneers in the field of American vertebrate paleontology, they also became mortal enemies in seeking to be recognized as The Paleontologist of the United States. The feud that ensued over “who discovered what, when” largely ruined both of their reputations and was so harsh that neither lived beyond ten years after the dust settled.
Dr. Lanham is thorough in laying the ground work for the reader to understand the placement and time-frame for the books’ complicated subject matter. He names the important participants in the development of this science, framing their contribution to its advancement and how their work played into the Marsh/Cope feud. He does not do as well in detailing the early work of archeology in finding these (now) World-Famous fossils. By the turn of the 20th Century, the fossils were no longer “just laying around by the ton” as they were forty years earlier but the difficult, often dangerous work (at the onset of these searches, the “Indian” and Range Wars were in full swing), those collecting them endured is merely alluded to. He is even-handed in describing the contributions both Cope and Marsh made to the expansion of a new science and to the viciousness with which they attacked each other.
The book was published in 1973 and the language and writing style is a bit dated but not to the extent that it is a distraction to reading it easily. There is no vulgar language, sexual situation or violence to be found in its pages even though the early days of these adventurers was during the Indian and Range Wars of the American West.
I doubt this book will be made into a movie, and that is a shame. The story has excitement to match Indiana Jones, breath-taking scenery, characters that are honest and vile enough to create tremendous drama and a plot that takes place from the “horse and wagon” days of the old west to the present day. I would buy a ticket to see it.
March 6, 2017
This book is interesting but not fascinating. It is a nice summary of various early paleontologists working in the western United States. The focus is strongly on the OC Marsh and ED Cope, but I appreciate that several other pioneers were included. If you are interested in the personal story of professional rivalry and personal hatred between Marsh and Cope, you may leave disappointed. The author seems much more interested in focusing on more positive aspects of both men. Most of the book is about their individual contributions to paleontology in the field and the laboratory/literature.
The book does cover the famous dispute between Marsh and Cope, but it almost seems abashed when doing so. The rivalry is alluded to several times but the "climactic" confrontation is primarily covered in a few pages consisting mostly of direct quotes from the published newspaper articles. The author says little by way of commentary or to affirm/refute specific accusations. In the end, the author offers a non-committal appraisal of the men and their rivalry that amounts to "their lives were colored by an unattractive hatred, but they both made significant contributions to science which is admirable."
The book does cover the famous dispute between Marsh and Cope, but it almost seems abashed when doing so. The rivalry is alluded to several times but the "climactic" confrontation is primarily covered in a few pages consisting mostly of direct quotes from the published newspaper articles. The author says little by way of commentary or to affirm/refute specific accusations. In the end, the author offers a non-committal appraisal of the men and their rivalry that amounts to "their lives were colored by an unattractive hatred, but they both made significant contributions to science which is admirable."
December 10, 2018
Book 46 of 2018: The Bone Hunters by Url Lanham.
A history of Western US vertebrate paleontology focusing on the rivalry between Cope and Marsh (the so-called Bone Wars). There are some minor typographical errors that detract a bit from the text (even though this Dover editon is "corrected"). The science is dated, especially with respect to dinosaur physiology, but provides a nice snapshot of the understanding in the 1970 when this book was originally written. It does provide a nice history of the Bone Wars, but in a somewhat non-linear fashion. This leads to a lot of repitition, in my opinion.
A history of Western US vertebrate paleontology focusing on the rivalry between Cope and Marsh (the so-called Bone Wars). There are some minor typographical errors that detract a bit from the text (even though this Dover editon is "corrected"). The science is dated, especially with respect to dinosaur physiology, but provides a nice snapshot of the understanding in the 1970 when this book was originally written. It does provide a nice history of the Bone Wars, but in a somewhat non-linear fashion. This leads to a lot of repitition, in my opinion.
October 19, 2016
One chapter did have some garbage on supposed "proofs" of evolution but otherwise this is a fine book.
July 5, 2024
Founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were scientists. When the Louisiana Territory was explored America outshone many of the European institutions of science for its paleontological discoveries. But there was a great rivalry among Americans for "scientific discovery" known as the "Bone Wars". This has been written about elsewhere but this is one of the original works on the famed warfare between March and Cope for dinosaur discoveries during the Gilded Age. A good history and an accurate portrayal of "science" in the process.
March 18, 2018
A dry read. It does have some interesting history of the old west, and how some of these specimens were collected. I am not convinced however of the idea of evolution.
April 29, 2023
The only thing is that it is outdated, and much of what is covered has been expanded upon in more recent reviews of this time in history.
February 1, 2016
Enjoyed it immensely, didn't realize that mammals coexisted w the dinosaurs!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews