The Bone Wars

dinosaurs · history · paleontology · competition

Fierce fossil rivals. Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh were two paleontologists who competed fiercely to discover and dig up the most dinosaur bones during the late 1800s. Their rivalry was so intense that they would do almost anything to win.

Sneaky and underhanded. Instead of playing fair, Cope and Marsh bribed workers, stole each other's fossils, and even smashed bones so their rival couldn't have them. They wanted to be the one person who got credit for each amazing discovery.

Public insults and attacks. The two scientists didn't just fight in person. They published mean articles about each other in scientific magazines, trying to make people think their rival was wrong or not a real scientist.

Money and fame at stake. Cope and Marsh both wanted more funding from rich people and universities to pay for their expeditions. By ruining each other's reputation, they hoped to get all the money and support for themselves.

Race out West. The Bone Wars happened during America's Gilded Age when the Wild West was still being explored. Dinosaur fossils were being discovered all over the American West, and both paleontologists rushed to find them first.