Dinosaur fossil to be painstakingly prepared for display

Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The remains of a four-ton dinosaur are sitting at the North Dakota Heritage Center, and workers plan to start unpacking them later this month.

State paleontologist John Hoganson says it'll be a long and careful process, done under magnifying lenses with special tools.

The dinosaur, named Dakota, was found in 1999 near Marmarth, in southwestern North Dakota. It's believed to be one of the world's most complete dinosaur mummies, with skin, ligaments, tendons and possibly some internal organs.

Dakota was discovered by Tyler Lyson (LEE'-son) on his uncle's farm. He's now working on his doctorate in paleontology at Yale University. Hoganson says he plans to return to North Dakota this summer.

The mummy arrived in two big blocks. Hoganson says one weighs 8,000 pounds with most of the skeleton and the other weighs about 1,500 pounds with the tail section.

The Heritage Center plans a public opening of the fossil display in June.

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