Did Dinosaurs Ever Live Alongside Humans?

You may have read online that dinosaurs once lived alongside humans. Here we look at what the real scientific observations suggest.

Overview

You may have been told online or at special interest museums that dinosaurs once lived alongside humans, or maybe even still live today. Here we look closely at this claim, and discover what science can tell us.

This animation was based partially on two wonderful books:

‘Hunting Monsters’ which is about the quests of various scientists and explorers attempting to discover mythical beasts, some of which turned out to be real! You can get yourself a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Monste…

And the book ‘Dinosaurs – How they lived and evolved’. This is a huge, full-colored book, summarizing all the discoveries we’ve made about dinosaurs since the first was described in 1824. It’s the best book I read this year (the year is still young I suppose but… It’s pretty dang good!) Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-How-…

FALSE CLAIMS DEBUNKED

In this video we show the best supposed evidence that humans and dinos once lived together: several corpses, supposed fossils, and pieces of “ancient” dinosaur artwork. Below are links where you can learn more about each claim. Where possible, I also link to articles by creationists debunking these claims because some of our viewers are reluctant to accept secular sources alone:

FOSSIL OF DINO EATING MAN – This was an April fools joke put on by the NMSR. Unfortunately, some dino enthusiasts were so eager to believe that it is still used today in debates as proof that humans and dinosaurs once lived together: http://www.nmsr.org/april_fool.html

DINO AND HUMAN FOOTPRINTS TOGETHER –
These “human” prints are actually dinosaur tracks with the toes naturally filled in afterwords, leaving a vaguely human-like shape: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy.html

Creationists also now accept that these prints are not human: https://creation.com/human-and-dinosaur-fossil-footprints

DEAD KILLER WHALE MISTAKEN FOR DINOSAUR – here is the full video the internet photos were grabbed from. In the video you can clearly see the whales front flippers. https://youtu.be/sumif3fCDH4

DEAD SHARK MISTAKEN FOR PLESIOSAUR – basking sharks often float after dying and quickly lose their gills and jaws as the rot. This gives them the appearance of being a long necked, small headed creature, superficially similar to a plesiosaur. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuiyo-maru_carcass

Here is a creationist site telling other dino-enthusiasts that it is a shark after-all: https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/arguments-to-avoid/didnt-a-fishing-boat-find-a-dead-plesiosaur/

SUPPOSED STEGOSAURUS SCULPTURE – Here is an excellent video by Trey the Explainer on the subject: https://youtu.be/SC3powddXWg

ICA STONES WITH DINOSAUR CARVINGS – These carvings were hoaxes – created by profiteering Peruvian farmers and sold to gullible tourists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ica_stones

Here is a creationist group warning about the controversial history of the stones: https://creation.com/ica-stones-bad-arguments

DINO SOFT TISSUE – I’m working on an animation going over the work of Mary Schweitzer and others that have found soft tissue inside dinosaur bones. I just have a place holder up for now but check it out for lots of good reading in the vid description: https://youtu.be/bSaOS7erEOk

For Teachers

The content of this video meets criteria in the following Disciplinary Core Ideas defined by Next Generation Science Standards. Use our videos to supplement classroom curriculum.

Contributors

Our videos benefit from guidance and advice provided by experts in science and education. This animation is the result of collaboration between the following scientists, educators, and our team of creatives.

Team
  • Jon Perry
  • Anthony Danzl
  • Rosemary Mosco
  • Jordan Collver
  • Tyler Proctor
Advisors
  • Adam Kent, PhD
  • Jessica Creveling, PhD

Sources

Corrections

At 3:32 we show the skull of Dimetrodon coming out of Devonian rock. Dimetrodon is actually found in the Permian rock. Thanks to YouTube user “Not Tuska” for pointing out the error.

Transcript