SECRETS OF THE JURASSIC DINOSAURS

Episode 1 
At a secret, one-square mile site in the US Midwest known as the “Jurassic Mile”, an international team of palaeontologists comes together to solve an ancient mystery. This is one of the richest dinosaur sites on Earth, containing countless giants from 150-million years ago, including gigantic sauropods, and their fearsome predator, allosaurus. The fossils found here are helping to change the way we think about this golden age of dinosaurs. But the big mystery to solve is, what happened to make this such a massive graveyard?
There are only a few weeks left to dig, so the pressure is on. There is the tail of a massive sauropod being unearthed, countless plant fossils to record, and the rippled surface of an ancient watering hole (complete with dinosaur footprints!) to investigate. Evidence reveals that the Jurassic Mile was a lush environment, attracting sauropods with food and water. But how did these massive herbivores ever get enough to eat? Did some of the sauropods here die of thirst, or of illness? Off-site visits to expert scientists reveal the surprising connections between sauropods and modern reptiles and birds. And at renowned dinosaur skeleton facility Research Casting International, the question arises as to whether the team may have discovered a new species of sauropod.
As a clearer picture emerges about the sauropods at this site, the team finds the bones of an allosaurus – the Jurassic’s apex predator. The hunt is now on for evidence of a clash between predator and prey.

Episode 2
There are just a few days left on the dig at the secret location known as the “Jurassic Mile”, where an international team of palaeontologists is trying to solve an ancient mystery. But the rock is not letting go of its treasures so easily—saws, drills and excavators are breaking down. Plus, the wild weather threatens to destroy the unearthed relics; once exposed, the precious fossils are incredibly vulnerable to dust devil winds and rain.
Ever since the discovery of the remains of the Jurassic’s apex predator, allosaurus, the team has been searching for signs of a clash between predator and prey. Maybe the sauropods here died in a ferocious attack, 150-million years ago?
But how did allosaurus take down a creature as massive as a sauropod? Was it a social animal, hunting in groups? Some sauropod bones feature scrape marks from teeth, and then the team finds the actual teeth themselves – clear signs that predators were feeding here. But is this scavenging, or did a group of allosaurs work together to kill this creature? CT scans of allosaurus skulls reveal that they likely had the intellectual capacity to hunt in groups; their brains were surprisingly robust, much like modern birds.
And yet, the team has discovered the remains of three allosaurs on site; two buried together, and one alone – how did these top predators die? As the clock ticks down to the final dig day, will the team piece together this final mystery?

UK (BBC Studio – Science Unit) / Canada (Ideacom international)

In collaboration with Children Museum of Indianapolis.

Episode 1 (SRC/BBC)
Episode 2 (SRC/BBC)

BBC Studios Distribution Limited

CBC
Ici Radio-Canada – Découverte
Ici Tou.TV
BBC 2
Discovery’s Science US

Executive Producers
Helen Thomas (UK)
Josette D Normandeau, André Barro (Canada)

Producers
Paul King (UK)
Amy Webb, André Barro (Canada)

Development Executive Producers
Nicola Cook, Thomas Scott (UK)

Line Producers
Max Brunold (UK)
Gloria Straccini (Canada)

Hosts
Anthony Morgan (CBC – The Nature of Things)
Charles Tisseyre (SRC – Découverte)
Liz Bonnin (BBC 2)

Scriptwriters
Eileen Inkson, Paul King, Gaëtan Mourgue, Ross Kirby (UK)
Roberto Verdecchia (Canada)

Directors
Ross Kirby, Mark Atwill, Gaëtan Mourgue (UK)
Roberto Verdecchia (Canada)

Director of Photography
Jon Sayers (UK)
Renald Bellemare (Canada)

Composer
Christian Clermont

VFX
AA Studios – Marc Hall