Triceratops skull fossils found at Thornton construction site

THORNTON — Dinosaur fossils have been found at the site of the City of Thornton’s new Public Safety Facility.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science said the bones of a Triceratops have been discovered — a second horn, portion of the frill, the beak at the front of the lower jaw, ribs and vertebrae, according to a news release.

“We’ve had an incredible day out here,” said Joe Sertich, Denver Museum of Nature & Science curator of dinosaurs, in a prepared statement. “It’s looking like we have one of the more complete Triceratops skeletons ever found in the metro area.”

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Work will continue over the next several days to uncover the bones, which will then be transported to the museum.

“I really have to credit the professionals working at the site that discovered the fossils,” Sertich said. “They knew they hit something important and started making calls right away. It’s an unusual circumstance that everyone will benefit from for years to come since we’re able to preserve these bones on behalf of the people of Thornton and Colorado.”

Guests of the museum will be able to see bones from the Thornton site as early as Friday.

The excavation site is still an active construction site and is closed to visitors.