Best of Austin 2005

When archaeologists go out in the field, it typically means heading to remote, unpopulated locales. Sometimes, expected ruins are even uncovered in construction sites. But a busy urban parking lot? Yep, Mangia Pizza at 35th & Guadalupe was the site for this archaeological challenge: to restore the Mangiasaurus dinosaur statue that had sat atop the building. The creature was found in sorry condition after vandals uprooted the pizzavore, but the Texas Memorial Museum team of paleontologists (including a personal physician!) came to the rescue. In short order, the "fascinating creature of the Crust-aceous" resumed her position atop the pizza joint, fully restored and reconstructed. Who says archaeologists are stuck in the past?