Overview
This lecture recounts the fierce rivalry between American paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, whose competition in the late 19th century led to groundbreaking dinosaur discoveries and significant advancements in the field of paleontology.
The Birth of American Paleontology
- Dinosaurs were largely unknown until mid-19th century fossil discoveries in America.
- Edward Drinker Cope and O.C. Marsh pioneered US paleontological research, discovering over 130 dinosaur species.
- Their work provided early fossil evidence supporting Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Cope and Marsh: From Friendship to Rivalry
- Cope was a self-taught naturalist; Marsh was Yale’s first paleontology professor.
- Initial collaboration ended after Marsh undercut Cope’s fossil sources in New Jersey.
- Personal animosity worsened after Marsh publicly exposed Cope’s mistake reconstructing Elasmosaurus.
The “Bone Wars”: Race for Dinosaur Fossils
- Both men led expeditions to the fossil-rich American West, competing to discover and name new species.
- Their rivalry included publishing papers hastily, often misidentifying or duplicating species due to lack of collaboration.
- Marsh sought institutional control via Yale and government survey support, while Cope relied on personal funding.
Scientific Achievements and Methods
- Marsh reconstructed horse evolution and found fossil birds with teeth, strengthening evolutionary theory.
- Cope was prolific, describing thousands of fossils and visualizing evolutionary changes.
- Both contributed to discoveries of famous dinosaurs like Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Apatosaurus.
Escalation and Scandal
- Competition led to sabotage, fossil destruction, and the use of spies.
- Marsh secured government power, attempting to marginalize Cope through federal control of fossils.
- Cope counterattacked with public accusations of fraud and corruption, leading to Congressional backlash and funding cuts.
Decline and Legacy
- Both men suffered personal and financial ruin by the end of their lives.
- Despite their feud, they advanced American science, established foundational fossil collections, and inspired future research.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Paleontology — the scientific study of fossils and ancient life.
- Fossil — remains or traces of ancient organisms, usually preserved in rock.
- Taxonomy — classification of organisms in scientific categories.
- Evolution — the process by which species change over time through natural selection.
- Bone Wars — the rivalry between Cope and Marsh to discover and name fossil species.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review notes on dinosaur discoveries, especially the contributions of Cope and Marsh.
- Study Darwin’s theory of evolution and how fossil evidence supports it.
- Prepare for quiz on key terms and major figures in American paleontology.