The Bone Wars: A Rivalry Ignited

The fierce competition between paleontologists Edwin Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh marked the beginning of the Bone Wars in the late 19th century. Both men, passionate about uncovering dinosaur fossils, initially respected each other, sharing discoveries and even naming species after one another. However, the camaraderie quickly soured when Marsh secretly undermined Cope’s excavation efforts in New Jersey, leading to a bitter rivalry filled with deception and one-upmanship. This intense competition drove both men to make significant contributions to paleontology, but also fostered unprofessional conduct that included espionage and sabotage of each others’ work.