Dinosaur Fossil Sites in the Mongolian Gobi

The Mongolian Gobi Desert is considered the largest and most significant dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world. The Gobi’s vast sedimentary basins have preserved a nearly continuous record of dinosaur evolution, especially from the Late Cretaceous period (about 100 to 66 million years ago), the final era of the “Age of Dinosaurs.”
Paleontologists continue to uncover remarkable fossils that demonstrate the Gobi Desert’s ancient past—at that time, the area was not an arid desert, but a lush environment with rivers, lakes, forests, and diverse ecosystems supporting a great variety of life.
Over nearly 100 years of scientific exploration, more than 80 genera of dinosaurs have been discovered here, alongside fossilized plants, early mammals, lizards, birds, and ancient insects. Over 60 major fossil sites, representing different time periods and ecological settings, have been documented across the desert.

Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)

Bayanzag is located 110 kilometers northwest of Dalanzadgad town, in Omnogobi Province. It is one of Mongolia’s most iconic fossil sites and a globally significant location for paleontology.

In 1923, the legendary American explorer and paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews led an expedition here and made groundbreaking discoveries, including the first scientifically recognized dinosaur eggs. This provided the first proof that dinosaurs reproduced by laying eggs, changing our understanding of their biology forever. The eggs belonged to Protoceratops and other species.

The name Bayanzag means “rich in saxaul,” referring to the native saxaul trees (Haloxylon ammodendron), which are specially adapted to the desert’s extreme conditions.
The nickname Flaming Cliffs was given by Andrews because of the site’s dramatic orange-red sandstone, which glows vividly at sunset.
Bayanzag stretches about 5 km wide and 8 km long, with striking ravines and buttes shaped by millions of years of wind erosion.

Today, visitors to Bayanzag can still find fragments of dinosaur bones and fossilized plants scattered across the ground—though excavation and removal of fossils without permission is strictly prohibited by law.

Tugrugiin Shiree

Tugrugiin Shiree is a striking white sandstone escarpment located about 30 kilometers from Bulgan soum, Omnogobi province.

It is most famous for one of the most extraordinary fossil discoveries in the history of paleontology: the Fighting Dinosaurs.
Discovered in 1971 by a Polish-Mongolian paleontological team, this fossil captures a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops locked in deadly combat, preserved in mid-fight for over 70 million years.
The fossil is extremely rare because it captures direct evidence of predator-prey interaction, providing unprecedented insights into dinosaur behavior.

In addition to this world-famous find, numerous large dinosaur footprints and partial skeletons have been discovered at Tugrugiin Shiree, including fossils of oviraptorosaurs—bird-like dinosaurs with beaked jaws.

Ongoing research and expeditions at Tugrugiin Shiree continue to reveal new finds, shedding light on the complex ecosystems of Late Cretaceous Mongolia.

Khermen Tsav

Khermen Tsav is a breathtaking canyon system located 460 kilometers from Dalanzadgad town and 150 kilometers north of Gurvantes soum, deep in the remote areas of Omnogobi province.

The name Khermen Tsav translates to “Wall Fissure,” reflecting the region’s tall, steep cliffs and labyrinthine ravines. Erosion over millions of years has sculpted surreal formations of red sandstone, some balancing precariously 30 meters above the ground.
The canyon covers about 250 square kilometers and features an elevation change of almost 1000 meters from the lowest valley floors to the highest ridges.

Scientists believe that around 200 million years ago, during the early Jurassic period, this area was covered by an inland sea or extensive river systems, creating the perfect conditions for fossilization.

Roy Chapman Andrews, who explored this area, famously called it “The End of the World” because of its remote, otherworldly landscape.

Khermen Tsav has yielded many important fossils, including complete dinosaur skeletons, turtle shells, fish remains, and fossilized plants. The site remains largely unexplored due to its remoteness, offering great potential for future discoveries.

Nemegt

The Nemegt Basin, located about 400 kilometers southwest of Dalanzadgad town, is a treasure trove for paleontologists.

The Nemegt Formation is a Late Cretaceous fossil-rich geological layer, famous for containing some of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever found in Asia. Among the discoveries are enormous herbivorous dinosaurs like Therizinosaurus (with scythe-like claws), Saurolophus (a duck-billed dinosaur), and the massive predator Tarbosaurus bataar—an Asian cousin of the North American Tyrannosaurus rex.

In 2006, paleontologists discovered fragments of a giant pterosaur’s neck bones here. The pterosaur, estimated to have had a wingspan of 10 to 12 meters, would have soared above the ancient floodplains. Although the species remains unnamed due to the incomplete fossil record, the find confirmed that giant flying reptiles lived in Late Cretaceous Mongolia.

The Nemegt fossils also provide crucial information about the environment: ancient river channels, forests, and floodplains teeming with diverse species, showing that the area once supported rich ecosystems.

Shar Tsav

Shar Tsav is located 80 kilometers northeast of Khanbogd soum and 108 kilometers from Manlai soum, Omnogobi province.

The site was discovered on July 31, 1995, during a joint expedition by Mongolian and Japanese researchers. Subsequent excavations in 1996, 2001, and 2010 revealed an astonishing number of fossilized dinosaur footprints—over 18,000 tracks from multiple species, including both herbivores and carnivores.

These tracks suggest that dinosaurs lived and traveled in herds and groups, offering rare and valuable insights into social behavior.
Footprints of hadrosaurids (duck-billed dinosaurs), small theropods, and possibly ankylosaurs (armored dinosaurs) have been identified at Shar Tsav.

Shar Tsav is now recognized as a site of international significance, not just for the quantity of footprints, but for the quality of preservation, helping scientists better understand dinosaur locomotion, speed, and group dynamics.

Conclusion

The Mongolian Gobi Desert remains one of the richest and most important paleontological regions in the world. Each site—Bayanzag, Tugrugiin Shiree, Khermen Tsav, Nemegt, and Shar Tsav—has contributed priceless information to science, transforming our understanding of dinosaur evolution, ecology, and behavior.
Today, careful efforts are being made to protect these irreplaceable sites for future generations, while continuing to unlock the secrets buried in Mongolia’s ancient sands.

Useful links: Mongolian Dinosaurs > List of dinosaurs found in Mongolia