An 11-year-old boy spotted a speck in Wyoming dirt that unlocked a 48-million-year-old secret from a lost tropical world—but what made his find rarer than a dinosaur bone?
Story Highlights
- Touren Pope, 11, from Idaho, discovered a nearly complete soft-shell turtle fossil on BLM public lands in southwest Wyoming’s Greater Green River Basin.
- The 48-million-year-old specimen from the Eocene epoch’s Bridger Formation represents a rare full carapace, unlike typical partial remains.
- Touren and his grandparents reported the find properly, leading to professional excavation by J.P. Cavigelli of the Tate Geological Museum.
- The boy named it “Little Timmy,” assisted in the dig, and earned praise for stewardship on public lands belonging to all Americans.
- This citizen science triumph boosts understanding of ancient ecosystems and inspires youth in paleontology.
Touren Pope’s Accidental Discovery
In fall 2025, Touren Pope rockhounded with grandparents Patti and Tom Patterson on Bureau of Land Management lands in Wyoming’s Greater Green River Basin. Touren noticed a small speck protruding from the ground. That speck proved a nearly complete fossilized soft-shell turtle shell from the trionychid family, dating 48 million years to the Eocene epoch. The family reported it immediately to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. Professionals confirmed its value and launched excavation.
Rare Fossil from the Bridger Formation
The Bridger Formation, exclusive to southwest Wyoming, holds fossils from post-dinosaur evolution, including saber-toothed Uintatherium. Forty-eight million years ago, this arid badland was a lush, tropical floodplain with rivers, fish, crocodiles, mammals, and turtles. Soft-shell turtle fossils here usually appear as fragments. Touren’s carapace stands out for completeness and fresh exposure, likely weathered by just a few rainstorms. Such preservation offers unique paleoenvironmental data.
J.P. Cavigelli, Tate Geological Museum collections specialist, led the September 2025 excavation. Touren served as main assistant during the two-hour jacketing with plaster-soaked burlap. Grandparents helped too. The team freed the fossil from rock at the museum lab, revealing beautiful preservation. Cavigelli called it “pretty cool,” praising Touren’s sharp eyes and performance. The boy named it “Little Timmy.”
Professional Collaboration and Stewardship
BLM staff documented and stabilized the site before pros arrived. Federal rules require reporting vertebrate fossils on public lands; these belong to all Americans. Touren’s family followed protocol perfectly, earning accolades. Cavigelli noted, “Those fossils belong to the people of the United States.” This case sets a model for citizen science. Touren stayed involved, from dig to prep, showing kids can contribute meaningfully when families prioritize responsibility.
The Tate Geological Museum curates “Little Timmy” for potential display next to a Cretaceous turtle fossil, highlighting evolution. Species identification awaits, but its rarity advances Eocene turtle and basin studies. Touren and family got an open invite to visit. Cavigelli urged the boy to “find the next one,” fostering ongoing public participation.
Impacts on Science and Public Lands
This find deepens knowledge of ancient warm-wet ecosystems via superior specimen data. It models youth STEM engagement: hands-on excavation teaches real science. Public lands enable such discoveries, rewarding proper reporting. Museums gain key pieces, boosting education on Wyoming’s heritage. Long-term, it may spark more finds, aligning with conservative values of stewardship—public resources serve everyone when handled right, not pocketed by individuals. Common sense prevails in collaboration over claim-jumping.
Sources:
11-year-old discovers turtle fossil on southwest Wyo BLM land
Wyoming fossil discovery by Touren
11-year-old finds 48-million-year-old turtle shell in SW Wyoming
11-Year-Old Touren Pope Discovers Ancient Turtle Fossil on BLM Land in Wyoming
11-year-old discovers 48-million-year-old fossil
