8-Year-Old Discovers Rare Dinosaur Fossil

FRUITA, Colo. (CBS4)- An 8-year-old boy has discovered a rare dinosaur fossil on Colorado's Western Slope.

Lachlan Barrett spotted what he believed to be a snout during a dino dig in Fruita. The fossil turned out to be one of the rarest discoveries of its kind.

Crews from the Museum of Western Colorado have spent the past two months excavating the fossil.

"This is one of only four known, fairly complete skulls in the world of Apatosaurus and it's the only one that has the cervical vertebrae associated with it, that will help us positively identify it," said a paleontologist with the museum.

In June, paleontologists uncovered dinosaur vertebrae in the same area which also belonged to an Apatosaurus. Scientists believe the dinosaur weighed more than 20 tons. The hope is too have the dinosaur on display next year.