The Bone Wars

The Bone Wars, also known as the Great Dinosaur Rush, was a period of intense scientific rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh in the late 19th century. Both men were eager to discover and name as many new dinosaur species as possible, and their rivalry turned into a bitter and often unethical competition.

The Bone Wars involved the discovery and excavation of numerous dinosaur fossils in the American West, particularly in states like Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Cope and Marsh spared no effort in outdoing each other, resorting to tactics such as bribery, theft, and sabotage to gain advantage in the field of paleontology.

Their rivalry ultimately led to significant advancements in dinosaur paleontology, but it also tarnished their reputations and strained the resources of scientific institutions. The Bone Wars came to an end with both men's financial ruin and damaged legacies, but their discoveries continue to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric life.