A little light paleontological reading for your weekend. Spikes! Lots and lots of spikes. "its entire skeleton was covered in extraordinary bone spikes measuring up to a metre long." If you were a predator and wanted to eat this dinosaur, how might you go about it?
https://my.mesaaz.gov/4tEK7R6
Hands-on activities are part of the AZMNH experience. We have fossils you can touch, gold panning, puzzles, and Discovery Stations where you can interact one-on-one with our volunteers.
Over 2000 years ago, someone crafted this amazing ceramic. It depicts a man wearing a simple headpiece and armbands holding onto a large jar. Do you think this was a portrait of a real individual, or did it represent a general scene of daily life? Learn about this and many other ancient stories at AZMNH.
Save the date for your journey into Arizona's past in this six-part speaker series, Arizona Through Time. A different scientist presents each talk and covers geology, paleontology, and anthropology topics specific to Arizona, from the deep past to the present day.
The second talk in the series will be given by Dr. Brian Curtice, titled "Unearthing Arizona's Lost World." Dr. Brian Curtice is a vertebrate paleontologist and longtime AZMNH associate, whose research focuses on sauropod dinosaur systematics and dinosaur behavior. He is passionate about paleontology and spreads the word through SPS and Fossil Crates.
Pterosaurs, like this Pteranodon, were born to fly! Unlike birds and bats, which take time to develop this skill, paleontologists have evidence that shows pterosaurs could fly right out of the egg. Learn more about it, and see our flock of Pterasaurs on your next visit to AZMNH.
Dr. Ismael is one of six recipients of the 2026 Norman Newell Early Career Research Grant awarded by the Paleontological Society. This marks the first time AZMNH has received this grant.
The Norman Newell Grant supports young scholars who earned their PhD within the last five years and whose research projects show scientific excellence and strong significance for the field of paleontology.
Dr. Ismael’s grant will help fund fieldwork at El Fin del Mundo, a Sonoran Desert site where he and his team have uncovered an important record of terminal Pleistocene fauna and Ice Age environments.
Affectionately known as the 'Jurassic Cow', Camarasaurus is one of the most well-known sauropod dinosaurs due to the number of examples discovered. So many, in fact, that paleontologists know every bone in the animal's body! It's on the small side for sauropods, but still towers over visitors at AZMNH.
Happy Mother’s Day from the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Today we’re celebrating the moms, grandmothers, caregivers and mother figures who help little hatchlings grow curious, brave and full of wonder.
Tomorrow is the last day to apply! AZMNH is looking for a Temporary Marketing Assistant to assist with copywriting, social media, email marketing, design projects and more. Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] by tomorrow, May 10, 2026.
The AZMNH Temporary Marketing Assistant position is for up to three months and 16–20 hours per week for a term of at least 6 months. The position pays $20 per hour.
This position is responsible for planning and creating dynamic social media content, which may include taking photos, filming and editing short videos and managing comments; compiling content for e-marketing efforts; assisting with copywriting for communications, advertising and promotional materials; and drafting and editing marketing materials.
This classification may also partner with other museum staff and/or programs within the Arts and Culture Department, other City departments and outside agencies as appropriate for the purpose of implementing and executing marketing programs.
Last week, the AZMNH anthropology staff attended the 2026 Society for American Archaeology annual meeting in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Ismael chaired a session on the Archaic archaeological record of the Southwest and neighboring regions and gave a presentation about his research on the Archaic period of the Sonoran Desert. Our former anthropology intern, Ryan Burke, led a poster presentation coauthored by Dr. Ismael and all former anthropology interns on the "AZMNH projectile points projects." It was a successful SAA for the AZMNH, and we're looking forward to attending next year's meeting!
Last night, Dr. Grant Boardman launched our summer speaker series, Arizona Through Time, with a deep dive (pun certainly intended) into a time when Arizona was underwater. We are grateful for his time and knowledge. Be on the lookout for information about the next speaker.
Congratulations to AZMNH Curator of Learning and Community Engagement, Dani, on graduating from the Mesa Leadership Training and Development program. This nine-month intensive leadership program involves classes, homework, shadowing, making presentations, a community service project and many more activities. Amazing work, Dani, we are so proud of you! #MesaLeads
