# Is there fossilized dinosaur shi... uh, I mean, droppings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596 "2000-11-25T00:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/1 "2000-11-25T00:05:19Z")
Seriosly. The little I know about fossils came from documentaries on the National Geographic channel, but I suppose that fossilized dinosaur DROPPINGS can give far more hints about what the animal used to eat, possible diseases and microorganisms, digestion, chemicals, etc. Do archaelogists study fossilized dino droppings too? And we just don’t know that cause skeletons are far cooler? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/2 "2000-11-25T00:18:38Z")
The word you are looking for is ‘coprolith’. (Not something I’d want to study, but I am sure someone does for a living.) WAG - but fossilization would destroy soft tissues and organism such as leaves and bacteria, so you are not liekly to find much but rock. I’m pretty sure I saw some for sale in one of those science/discovery stores. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/3 "2000-11-25T00:36:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > \*\* > WAG - but fossilization would destroy soft tissues and organism such as leaves and bacteria, so you are not liekly to find much but rock. \*\* Sure, but maybe the fossilized IMPRINT of leaves and small animals can give some clues. What if they find a fossilized human skeleton in, say, a fossilized tiranosaur dodo? THAT would be aaaaa-mazing! (yeah, not gonna happen, but it WOULD be amazing) ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/4 "2000-11-25T00:48:53Z")
Yes, there is, it’s called “Corprolite” I believe. Some people make jewelry out of it. What’s really amazing is that other people will BUY that jewelry. I mean, can you imagine? “Wow, what a great necklace!” “Thanks! It’s dinosaur excrement!” Just the perfect gift for someone who has everything. ---
**Author:** ![IBBen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85f322/32.png) [@IBBen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IBBen)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/5 "2000-11-25T01:07:15Z")
coprolite \Cop"ro\*lite, n. [Gr. ko`pros dung + -lite.] (Paleon.) A piece of petrified dung; a fossil excrement. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/6 "2000-11-25T01:16:58Z")
I bought one a few years ago. It looks pretty much like a rock. ---
**Author:** ![Lego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@Lego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lego)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/7 "2000-11-25T01:38:53Z")
At least one person has become famous for studying coprolites. Information on Karen Chin, “the Queen of dinosaur poop”, can be found in the following dino magazine, although you need to view it with acrobat reader. > **[Dinodata.net - Refinansiering av gjeld og lån](https://www.dinodata.net)** > > Sammenlign flere aktører for å få det beste tilbudet på refinansiering. Finn ut hvilken bank du bør velge når du søker om usikret lån. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-fossilized-dinosaur-shi-uh-i-mean-droppings/42596/8 "2000-11-25T03:17:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lego \* > \*\*At least one person has become famous for studying coprolites. Information on Karen Chin, “the Queen of dinosaur poop”, can be found in the following dino magazine, although you need to view it with acrobat reader. > \*\* Thanks!