RE: WWD Allosaurus

["Simon, Robert (RISI)" <RISI@chevron.com>]

        Regarding WWD Allosaurus, I thought there were a few problems:

         1. I believe it was stated Big Al was the most complete dinosaur
(or most complete allosaurus) ever found. I do not believe this is the case.
A second Allosaurus specimen was excavated after Big Al in a nearby location
by the same person who actually discovered Big Al: Kirby Siber. The second
allosaurus was more complete and I believe larger.

        2. They showed the Allosaurus skeleton and the pathologies etc. on
the 'skeleton.'  It is a minor point, but I believe the original skeleton is
in Montana while only a cast of Big Al is in Wyoming on display. There was
no mention of the skeleton being only a cast of the original specimen. Would
have been interesting listening to the explanation as to why this famous
Wyoming dinosaur is not in Wyoming.

        3. I would have liked to see more actual paleontology and less
computer graphics. It would have been nice to see actual excavation of Big
Al instead of chalk patterns drawn on the dirt akin to a murder scene. In
fact, the BBC did have the opportunity to visit a dig site during filming in
Wyoming only a couple miles away, where a partial juvenile Allosaurus was
being excavated. The BBC did not visit the site, even though it might have
been worthy as Allosaurus bones were in full display as well as large
sauropod bones only a few meters away.

        If the intent was simply to show a possible world of the life and
death of an Allosaurus with computers and animation, then the show was fine.
I just think people would also appreciate seeing the efforts to find and
then excavate a wonderful specimen such as this.

        Bob Simon