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Lee Hall

Lee Hall
Paleontology Lab and Field Manager

Lee caught the dinosaur bug from childhood visits to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and a copy of the Little Golden Book of Dinosaurs. Moving to South Dakota and trips to Badlands National Park cemented his love of exploration, the outdoors, and natural history. At the age of 16, he was invited by former Curator of Paleontology Jack Horner to volunteer with MOR field crews. He subsequently attended Montana State University and during the summers worked as a crew chief running digs for the MOR.

Lee earned a Bachelor of Science in earth science from MSU in 2011 and began a career in mitigation paleontology with SWCA, Inc. of Pasadena, CA. After four years crisscrossing the southwestern US rescuing fossils from bulldozers and running a small fossil lab, he was hired by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as their preparator. While with the CMNH, Lee managed the fossil preparation lab, initiated a major lab renovation project, and participated in local and international fieldwork in Canada and Mongolia. In 2020, he returned to Museum of the Rockies as Paleontology Field Professional, and in 2022, was promoted to Paleontology Lab and Field Manager.

Lee is a member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s Hix Preparators’ Grant Panel, and the Ask a Paleontologist list. His professional interests include taphonomy and stratigraphy, and improving the standards and practices of paleontology lab and field methods. His research background includes Late Jurassic dinosaurs of Ethiopia, bite marks, and intraspecific aggression in the Late Devonian giant arthrodire Dunkleosteus, and the function and evolution of sauropod claws.

Contact Lee via email or 406.994.5481.


ORIGINS SCIENCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM LECTURE SERIES
Case Western Reserve University’s Institute for the Science of Origins Videos


RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Hall, L., Fragomeni, A., and Fowler, D. 2016. The flexion of sauropod pedal unguals and testing the substrate grip hypothesis using the trackway fossil record. In Falkingham, Marty, and Richter (eds), Dinosaur Tracks: The Next Steps. Indiana University Press.

Eren, M., Redmond, B., Miller, G., Buchanan, B., Boulanger, M., Hall, A., and Hall, L. 2016. The Wauseon Clovis fluted point preform, Northwest Ohio, U.S.A.: observations, geometric morphometrics, microwear, and toolstone procurement distance. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (10): 147-154.

Fowler, D., and Hall, L. 2011. Scratch-digging sauropods, revisited. Historical Biology 23(1): 27-40.ABSTRACTS


ABSTRACTS
Hall, L., Zelinski, D., Ryan, M., and McGee, A. 2018. Fishing with silicon carbide: preparing diverse marine vertebrates from the Late Devonian (Famennian) Cleveland Member of the Ohio Shale, Ohio, USA. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Programs and Abstracts Book 2018.

Zelinski, D., Hall, L., Ryan, M., and McGee, A. 2018. Fishing with silicon carbide: preparing diverse marine vertebrates from the Late Devonian (Famennian) Cleveland Member of the Ohio Shale, Ohio, USA. Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology Fossil Preparation and Collections Symposium Abstract Volume.

Hall, L., McGee, A., and Ryan, M. 2017. Cruisin’ the Devonian highway: the 50th anniversary of the I-71 dig. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Programs and Abstracts Book 2017.

Hall, L., Ryan, M., and Scott, E. 2016. Possible evidence for cannibalism in the giant arthrodire Dunkleosteus, the apex predator of the Cleveland Shale Member (Fammenian) of the Ohio Shale. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Programs and Abstracts Book 2016: 148.

Hall, L., McGee, A., and Ryan, M. 2016. Cruisin’ the Devonian Highway: The 50th Anniversary of the I-71 Dig. Fossil Preparation and Collections Symposium Abstract Volume: 35.

Ryan, M., Hannibal, J. McGee, A., and Hall, L. 2016. The importance of historical collections from the Upper Devonian Cleveland Black Shale of northeastern Ohio in gallery design: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s centennial transformation project. Geological Society of America Abstract Volume.

Knauss, G., Johnson, S., Hall, L., Fox, N., and Meyers, V. 2015. From grasslands to well pad: a mitigation paleontological discovery, Lance Formation (Maastrichtian), Wyoming proves the value of implementing best practices. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Program and Abstracts Book 2015: 156.

Hall, L. and Goodwin, M. 2011. A diverse dinosaur tooth assemblage from the Upper Jurassic of Ethiopia: implications for Gondwanan dinosaur biogeography. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Program and Abstracts Book 2011: 40A.

Baker, K., Scannella, J., Hall, L., and Horner, J. 2011. Biogeographic implications of a partial ceratopsid skeleton from the lower Two Medicine Formation (Campanian), Montana. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Program and Abstracts Book 2011: 65A-66A.

Hall, L. and Keenan, S. 2010. Taphonomy of a new specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex from the Hell Creek formation of Montana. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Program and Abstracts Book 2010: 100A-101A.

Fowler, D. and Hall, L. 2009. Scratch-digging sauropods, revisited: similarity of sauropod pes unguals to tortoises, and inferred nest-excavating behavior. 4th International Conference on Dinosaur Eggs & Babies, abstracts volume: 18.

Hall, L. and Goodwin, M. 2007. A preliminary analysis of dinosaur teeth from the Mugher Mudstone of Ethiopia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts Book 2007:86A.

PROFESSIONAL REPORTS
Hall, L., and Bell, A. 2015. Paleontological survey report for the Valentine Solar Project, Rosamond, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group. April 2015. 24 p.

Bell, A., and Hall, L. 2015. Paleontological survey report for the Gordon Mull Subdivision, Glendora, Los Angeles County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Terry A. Hayes Associates, LLC. April 2015. 20 p.

Hall, L., and Knauss, G. 2015. Paleontological resources survey report for the Ann Barite Mine Project, Nye County, Nevada. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for the USDA Forest Service, SRK Consulting, Inc., and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. February 2015. 33 p.

Hall, L., Knauss, G., Johnson, S., and Murphey, P. 2015. Paleontological resources monitoring report for the One Nevada 500 kV Transmission Line Project, White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties, Nevada. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for the Bureau of Land Management, NV Energy, and HDR, Inc. March 2015. 386 p.

Hall, L., Shapiro, R., and Corsetti, C. 2015. Paleontological resources report for the Mojave Solar Project, San Bernardino County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for the California Energy Commission and CH2M Hill. March 2015. 580 p.

Corsetti, C., Knauss, G., Johnson, S., and Hall, L. 2014. Paleontological resources monitoring report for the Genesis Solar Energy Project, Riverside County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for the Bureau of Land Management, the California Energy Commission, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. May 2014. 293 p.

Dietler, S., Gibson, H., and Hall, L. 2014. Cultural and paleontological resources constraints study for the Coalinga 1 and 2 Reconductoring Project, Fresno County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. April 2014. 18 p.

Gibson, H., Dietler, S., Howell-Ardila, D., and Hall, L. 2014. Cultural and paleontological resources constraints study for the Wilson-Oro Loma 115 kV Line and Oro Loma-Panoche 115 kV Line Reconductoring Projects, Fresno County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. May 2014. 39 p.

Hall, L. 2014. Results of paleontological monitoring of the West of Devers Upgrade Project—Geotechnical Fault Trenching—F2-5 and F1-6, Riverside County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Southern California Edison. July 2014. 17 p.

Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2014. Final paleontological resources monitoring and mitigation report for the UCI University Hills 10-3 Planning Area Project, City of Irvine, Orange County, California: Addendum to UCI 10-1. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for California Pacific Homes. June 2014. 30 p.

Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2014. Paleontological resources monitoring and mitigation plan for the Blythe Solar Power Project, Riverside County, California, 09-AFC-06C. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for the California Energy Commission and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. May 2014. 41 p.

Hall, L., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological monitoring program for the 6th and Bixel Project, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for NASH-Holland 6th & Bixel Project, LLC. March 2014. 34 p.

Hall, L., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological resources assessment report for the Antelope Valley Constraints Project, Los Angeles County, California. Prepared for CAJA Environmental Services, LLC. March 2014. 18 p.

Hall, L., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological resources impact assessment report for the LA Plaza Cultura Village Project, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for ELP Advisors. April 2014. 25 p.

Hall, L., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological resources impact assessment report for the Long Beach Courthouse Project, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Terry A. Hayes Associates, Inc. May 2014. 25 p.

Hall, L., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological resources mitigation and monitoring report for the Birch Hills Project, City of Brea, Orange County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Chevron Land Development Company. June 2014. 20 p.

Hall, L., Knauss, G., and Dietler, S. 2014. Paleontological impact evaluation report for the Ann Barite Mine Project, Nye County, Nevada. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for SRK Consulting, Inc., Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., and the USDA Forest Service. May 2014. 26 p.

Denniston, E., Hall, L., and Millington, C. 2013. Cultural and paleontological resources monitoring and discovery report for the RE Rio Grande LLC Solar Facility Project, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Recurrent Energy, LLC. December 2013. 46 p.

Dietler, S., Denniston, E., and Hall, L. 2013. Cultural and paleontological resources monitoring and discovery report for the RE Rosamond One LLC Solar Facility Project, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Recurrent Energy, Inc. December 2013. 58 p.

Dietler, S., Denniston, E., and Hall, L. 2013. Cultural and paleontological resources monitoring and discovery report for the RE Rosamond Two LLC Solar Facility Project, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Recurrent Energy, Inc. December 2013. 59 p.

Hall, L., Dietler, S, and Murphey, P. 2013. Paleontological survey report for the Valentine Solar Project, Rosamond, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group. December 2013. 20 p.

Hoffman, L., Denniston, E., and Hall, L. 2013. Cultural and paleontological resources monitoring and discovery report for the RE Columbia 3 LLC Solar Facility Project, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Recurrent Energy, LLC. December 2013. 77 p.

Daitch, D., Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2012. Paleontological assessment for the Humbolt Bay – Humboldt #1 60 kV Reconductoring Project. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. July 2012. 73 p.

Daitch, D., Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2012. Paleontological resources mitigation monitoring report, La Floresta Project, Brea, Orange County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Chevron Land Development Company. August 2012. 50 p.

Hall, L., and DeBusk, J. 2012. Paleontological resources mitigation monitoring report for the Round Mountain Section 18 New Well Pad Construction Project, Kern County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Quad Knopf, Inc. on behalf of Macpherson Oil Company. March 2012. 46 p.

Thompson, W., Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2012. Final paleontological resources monitoring and mitigation report for the UCI University Hills 10-1 Planning Area Project, City of Irvine, Orange County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for California Pacific Homes. November 2012. 50 p.

Daitch, D., Hall, L., and Corsetti, C. 2011. Paleontological resources assessment for the Guernsey Solar Station Project, Kings County, California. Prepared by SWCA, Inc. for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. November 2011. 23 p.