A 12-Year-Old Boy on a Field Trip Found Giant 80-Million-Year-Old Fossil Bones Hidden Beneath Kansas Rocks

During a routine geology outing in northern Kansas, 12‑year‑old Corbin Bullard uncovered a fossil that dates back roughly 80 million years, belonging to a giant marine reptile known as Tylosaurus. The find, made while the youngster was part of a school‑aged field group, has captured statewide attention for both its age and the age of the discoverer.

Unexpected Vertebrae Spark a Scientific Hunt

Corbin Bullard was on a field trip with the Sedgwick County 4‑H Geology Club when he spotted an odd protrusion in the ground. According to KWCH/Gray News, his reaction was a simple “Whoa.” His mother, Wendy Bullard, recalled the moment: “He said, ‘Whoa.’ So, we looked down and found what I think was seven or eight large vertebrae.”

Subsequent analysis linked the bones to a Tylosaurus specimen from the Cretaceous seas that once covered much of North America. While Kansas is no stranger to prehistoric finds, the scale of this mosasaur—a marine reptile group distinct from dinosaurs—makes the discovery noteworthy.

A Sea‑Covered Kansas in the Cretaceous

Tylosaurus belonged to the mosasaur lineage, a family of apex predators that roamed the ancient Western Interior Seaway. At the time, the region that is now central United States lay beneath a vast inland ocean. As Corbin summed up, “Pretty much all of the middle of America used to be underwater.”

Excavation, Restoration and Community Support

The initial discovery in September was just the first step. Over three separate field trips, volunteers extracted a total of eight fossil fragments that together span more than 15 feet. Since then, Corbin has taken on the painstaking task of cleaning the remains, logging at least 30 hours of hands‑on work.

“I feel like it’s very surreal to have had this happen. I’m very proud of Corbin for sticking through it and finding everything,” said Stephanie Hays, the Sedgwick County 4‑H agent who oversaw the project.

Future Public Display

The team plans to showcase the Tylosaurus skull at the Sedgwick County Fair in July, offering fairgoers a glimpse of the massive marine reptile that once inhabited Kansas waters.