Archaeologists recently discovered what is thought to be the largest dinosaur known throughout history in Argentina. Named the Titanosaur, the 130 feet long, 77 ton saurapod has been declared the largest animal to have ever walked the face of the Earth (so far). Recent extraordinary leaps of technology have helped update archaeological inquest, allowing for the scientific field to stave off its own extinction event, ensuring paleontologists will not experience the same fate as the dinosaurs.

Industries have evolved from low-tech to high-tech within a few years, and paleontologists have begun putting down their chisels and plasters, foregoing guesstimates on where to dig sample sites. Instead, the scientists now turn to high-tech gizmos and gadgets to help them reveal the underlying clues and mysteries of the bedrock below. These tactics helped facilitate the discovery of the Titanosaur and hold great potential for future discoveries.

Using drones for finding bones

One of the newest tactics paleontologists have started to employ in order to find dig sites is to use commercial drones retrofitted with thermal sensors. Rather than trekking through unforgiving wildernesses with heavy gear to test dig at a site for potential archaeological treasures, archaeologists can simply fly a drone over the desert or other areas not precluded by dense foliage, recording data from the thermal sensors.

After uploading the data into computer models, the scientists can then determine whether the underlying bedrock anomalies of heat sensory data are worthwhile to follow up with a physical dig. Recently, archaeologists from the University of Arkansas found previously undiscovered structures in the Blue J. settlement of Ancestral Puebloans in New Mexico while using this method.

3D scanning and printing technology

One of the more tedious tasks of paleontology and archaeology is ensuring all of the proper recordings of the surrounding environment of the fossil or artifact have been duly noted before final extraction. The painstaking process is necessary to determine environmental conditions the animal was in, the types of shelter and food utilized, and whether there are any obvious health conditions readily observed that could help determine the species cause of death. Properly recording such minute details often are a nuisance, but sometimes can be a crisis.

Many times when fossils are discovered during a construction project, further digging must stop until a paleontologist can come observe and remove the fossil. However, there is normally a government stop order of 30 days, which may not be enough time to properly record, analyze, and excavate an entire fossil graveyard.

In order to mitigate such delays and record the details for posterity, scientists have turned to the world of 3D scanning technology. Now, 3D digitization enables paleontologists to quickly record entire fossil collections within a few days, a scant fraction of the time it used to take. The digital files can then be uploaded to a computer and detailed analysis can occur in collaboration with other scientists worldwide.