Kenneth Carpenter is head of the fossil preparation laboratory and is the Museum's resident dinosaur expert. Dr. Carpenter earned his doctorate in geology and vertebrate paleontology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Dr. Carpenter is world renowned for his research into Early Cretaceous dinosaurs, armored dinosaurs, and dinosaur reproduction. He was responsible for the skeletal mounts in the award-winning Prehistoric Journey at the Museum. He has published seven books including Mesozoic Vertebrate Life and The Armored Dinosaurs (Indiana University Press, 2001), as well as more than 130 popular and scientific articles on topics ranging from fossil preparation techniques, mounting of fossil skeletons, dinosaur taxonomy, and dinosaur behavior. In addition, Dr. Carpenter oversees the research and scientific publications of several Museum volunteers. He is presently studying the dinosaur faunas of the Lower Cretaceous.
Current Projects
Recent Publications
Carpenter, K. 2006. Comparative vertebrate taphonomy of the Pembina and Sharon Springs Members (PDF | 14MB) (Middle Campanian) of the Pierre Shale, Western Interior. Paludicola 5: 125-149. (14408 KB)
Kilbourne, B., and Carpenter, K. 2005. Redescription of Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum (PDF | 2.8MB), a polacanthid ankylosaur from the Upper Jurassic of Albany County, Wyoming. Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie Abhandlungen 237: 111-160.
Carpenter, K., and Tidwell, V. 2005. Reassessment of the Early Cretaceous sauropod Astrodon johnsoni Leidy (PDF | 3.8MB) 1865 (Titanosauriformes). Pp. 78-114 in. Tidwell, V., and Carpenter, K. (ed.) Thunder-lizards: The Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
Carpenter, K., Sanders, F., McWhinney, L., and Wood, L. 2005. Evidence for predator-prey relationships: Example for Allosaurus and Stegosaurus (PDF | 2.4MB). Pp. 325-350 in Carpenter, K. (ed.) The Carnivorous Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
Carpenter, K., Miles, C., Ostrom, J.H., and Cloward, K. 2005. Redescription of the small maniraptoran theropods Ornitholestes and Coelurus (PDF | 3.1MB) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming. Pp. 49-71 in Carpenter, K. (ed.) The Carnivorous Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
