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Welcome to NARG

The Pacific NW is a region that extends from Northern California through Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and inland to Idaho. The land we see today in the Pacific NW is the result of the breakup and collision of giant continents, the rise and fall of ancient ocean basins and lakes, uplift and wearing down of mountain ranges, floods of molten lava, and continental glaciers of the Ice Ages. The sedimentary deposits from the ancient lakes and seabeds that covered the Pacific NW provide a rich fossil record dating back more than 500 million years.

NARG is a diverse and dynamic group with members of all ages and experience with interests and professions in paleontology, paleonbotany, and geology. In order to fully comprehend the geologic and paleontologic significance of the Pacific NW on a regional and global scale continued research is required.

The purpose of this website is to provide you with information on NARG's activities as well as information on the paleontology and geology of the Pacific NW.

National Geographic - Top 10 Dinosaur and Fossil Finds of 2007

The National Geographic just released its list of “Top 10 Dinosaur and Fossil Finds of 2007” and I’m pleased to see that NARG’s Jurassic crocodile discovery made the list. The crocodile was beat out for the #1 position by the “Dinosaur Mummy”, which is a tough one to beat.

What will we find to make the list in 2008?

National Geographic - Top 10 Dinosaur and Fossil Finds of 2007

Miocene baleen whale skull from the Empire Formation

NARG's most recent Fossil Search and Rescue trip was the rescue of a late Miocene whale skull from the Empire Formation near Coos Bay, Oregon. The trip report is in progress and until then here are a few links to "The World Link" newspaper from Coos Bay that covered the story.

  • Whale of a find - A day of discovery By Elise Hamner, City Editor and Susan Chambers, Staff Writer
  • Video Video and Production by Lou Sennick
  • About North America Research Group By Susan Chambers, Staff Writer
  • Other fossil finds By Susan Chambers, Staff Writer

    NARG wants to extend it's appreciation to all those that participated, contributed, supported NARG in the whale recovery.

    • Significant Fossil Find in Oregon

    Artists renditon of plesiosaur. Artwork by Gail Saunders-Boyle USDA Forest Service.A fossil discovered by amateur paleontologists in Central Oregon is the lower jaw of a plesiosaur, a marine reptile that swam in the ocean that covered most of Oregon 90 to 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous. Plesiosaurs were primarily fish eaters and grew to a length of about 25 feet. The recovered specimen will be housed at the Museum of Geology in South Dakota. The museum staff is currently removing the rock from the fossil to determine the specimen's condition. The BLM is working with local entities to find a more permanent home for a replica for public education purposes.

    Read the News Release Now (551KB Adobe PDF)

    Tigard's 'fossil boy' MacKenzie Smith participates in real dig

    The Tigard youth who helped designate a state fossil last year works with real anthropologists

    ©2004 NARG - North America Research Group