05/24/2026
Howdy folks, Copper State Outlaw here. Every now and again, someone crosses my path with a story so downright intriguing it just demands to be shared. Today, I want to tell you about a good friend of mine, a man named Tom Olson, because his tale is a testament to what happens when you truly know how to read the Arizona dirt.
It all started on a late May Saturday. Tom was driving back to Flagstaff from Holbrook, his eyes constantly tracking that rugged, sun-baked horizon we all know so well. About five miles off the interstate, a specific, weathered old butte caught his attention. He kept pointing it out to his longtime student, Ster, a kid Tom had been mentoring since he was just nine years old. Now, Tom has some deeply trained instincts, and he insisted that this particular formation belonged to the lower to middle Holbrook member of the Moenkopi, perfectly matching some distinct purple and white layers the two of them had just studied the weekend prior. Pointing his finger directly at a slanted, fractured brown layer high up on the rock, Tom swore up and down there was something incredible hidden inside it. For two full years, Tom did nothing but stare at that butte from the highway, dreaming of what was buried there, until Ster finally managed to secure the proper legal permits to go out and investigate the site.
Because Tom was tied down teaching summer school the following week, Ster ended up trekking out into that brutal desert heat entirely on his own. But let me tell you, Tom’s instincts were dead on. It wasn't long before Ster called Tom right from the field, his voice absolutely buzzing with adrenaline. He jokingly told his mentor that his guess was about two feet off, because the skeleton wasn't in the layer itself, it was resting in the gully just below that slanted brown rock. Ster had uncovered a nearly complete Arizonasaurus, an incredibly rare, sail-backed Triassic archosaur from roughly 240 million years ago. Even more remarkable, this particular specimen included the highly coveted pelvic girdle, a massive win for the scientific community.
Stunned by the monumental find, Tom asked his student if it was embedded in the pebble conglomerate rainbow sandstone. Ster confirmed it was, praising his mentor's incredibly sharp eye. Right then and there, Ster got to work in the dirt, carefully using plaster and burlap wrap to protect and extract the heavy, ancient fossil. Once Ster meticulously prepared the skeleton, the sheer scientific importance of what they found became undeniably clear. For Tom, it was the ultimate reward of a lifetime of mentorship. It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that our ancient Moenkopi layers hold secrets even older and more heavily debated than the famous Chindesaurus found over in the Petrified Forest member of the Chinle formation. It just goes to show you, folks, out here in the desert, knowing how to read the landscape always pays off.
If you have an incredible, true piece of Wild Arizona history, a wild critter encounter, or a story that is worthy of the Copper State Outlaw, do not hesitate to reach out and share it with me. Make sure to hit that follow button and stay tuned to the page for more unfiltered, gritty insights into the history and lore of our rugged desert home.
