This blog discusses the inevitable rivalry between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope that sparked the Bone Wars.

Introduction

The Bone Wars were one of the most notable and momentous rivalries in scientific history, taking place in the late nineteenth century. The decades-long conflict between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh changed the study of vertebrate paleontology, revealing innumerable prehistoric species while also being plagued by sabotage, avarice, and scientific misconduct. Their rivalry, motivated by personal hatred and a desire for reputation, paved the way for modern paleontology—but at a cost. This article examines the beginnings of the Bone Wars, its important findings, the immoral practices used, and their enduring effect.

Background: The Rivals

Edward Drinker Cope (1840–1897) Cope, a genius from a rich Philadelphia family, started studying fossils when he was a youngster. By his twenties, he had written more than 70 scholarly publications. Cope, a charismatic and impetuous individual, depended on family riches and freelance labor to support travels.

Othniel Charles Marsh (1831–1899) Marsh, the nephew of benefactor George Peabody, used his uncle’s contacts to acquire academic jobs and funds. As a Yale University professor, he built the Peabody Museum of Natural History, which became a fossil study center. Marsh, who was methodical and politically astute, obtained government funding from the United States Geological Survey.

Their friendship began as collegial but worsened following a cooperative fossil-hunting excursion to New Jersey in 1863. Marsh allegedly paid a quarry operator to give fossils to him rather than Cope, foreshadowing the upcoming bitter conflict (Jaffe 2000).

The Rivalry Ignites

The Bone Wars heated up in the 1870s, when both men competed for control of the American West, which was rich in dinosaur remains. The development of transcontinental railroads provided access to areas like as Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska, where ancient bones were revealed.

Key Discoveries and Examples

1. The Great Dinosaur Rush (1877–1892)
   • Como Bluff in Wyoming (1877): Railroad workers informed Marsh about huge Jurassic-era fossils at Como Bluff, which led to the discovery of Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Diplodocus (Wallace, 1999). Marsh’s crew spent years quietly excavating the site.
   • Cope’s “Cope’s Folly” (1878): In an attempt to outdo Marsh, Cope wrongly recreated the plesiosaur Elasmosaurus, putting the head on the tail. Marsh openly mocked the error, escalating their hostility. Cope eventually attempted to destroy all copies of the incorrect document (Gallagher, 1997).
2. The Brontosaurus vs. Apatosaurus Debate
   • Marsh named Apatosaurus in 1877 and Brontosaurus in 1879, assuming that they were different. Later research established that they were the same genus, discrediting “Brontosaurus” for nearly a century—a tribute to Marsh’s hasty classifications (Tschopp et al., 2015).
     
3. The Race for Publicity
   • Both men published extensively but frequently stressed speed above accuracy. Marsh described over 80 dinosaur species; Cope named 56. Many were eventually deemed invalid owing to duplication or mistakes (Romer, 1964).

Aligning the ribs is one of the more challenging aspects of rebuilding a Brontosaurus. Photo by Dan Renzetti

Underhanded Tactics

The Bone Wars were as much about sabotage as science:

• Theft and Bribery: Cope and Marsh used spies to spy on or disrupt each other’s squads. Cope reportedly bought off a stationmaster to stop a shipment of Marsh’s fossils (Jaffe, 2000).
• Fossil Destruction: Both damaged bones or covered delicate fossils with adhesive to stop competitors from analyzing them.
• Media Warfare: Cope accused Marsh of mishandling USGS money in 1890 by leaking information to the New York Herald. A public spectacle resulted from Marsh’s retaliatory attack on Cope’s credibility (Osborn, 1931).

Impact on Paleontology

Scientific Advancements

Despite their faults, Cope and Marsh discovered over 130 new dinosaur species, including classic genera like Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus rex ancestors, and Camarasaurus. Their research documented the richness of Mesozoic life and promoted paleontology.

Ethical Reckoning

Their dispute highlighted the perils of egoistic science. The scientific community eventually established more stringent requirements for peer review and fossil recording.

Financial Ruin

Both men died impoverished. Cope sold his fossil collections to survive; Marsh’s reputation collapsed after the USGS funding scandal.

Legacy and Lessons

The Bone Wars remains a cautionary story. Modern paleontologists value collaboration above rivalry, while acknowledging that Cope and Marsh’s findings lay the groundwork for the science.

Conclusion

The Bone Wars were a paradox: a rivalry that promoted science by increasing the amount of discoveries while compromising its purity. Cope and Marsh’s narrative reminds us that scientific advancement involves not just curiosity, but also humility and ethics.

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References & Citation:

Gallagher, W. B. (1997). When Dinosaurs Roamed New Jersey. Rutgers University Press.

Jaffe, M. (2000). The Gilded Dinosaur: The Fossil War Between E.D. Cope and O.C. Marsh and the Rise of American Science. Crown Publishing.

Osborn, H. F. (1931). Cope: Master Naturalist. Princeton University Press.

Romer, A. S. (1964). Vertebrate Paleontology (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.

Tschopp, E., Mateus, O., & Benson, R. B. J. (2015). “A specimen-level phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of Diplodocidae (Dinosauria, Sauropoda).” PeerJ, 3, e857.

Wallace, D. R. (1999). The Bonehunters’ Revenge: Dinosaurs, Greed, and the Greatest Scientific Feud of the Gilded Age. Houghton Mifflin.

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