Finding all thirty dinosaur bones in Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most rewarding collection quests for players seeking total game completion. Triggered by meeting Deborah MacGuiness in Heartlands, this quest sends players across vast territories to document prehistoric remains. Tracking down these hidden fossils requires careful navigation and a keen eye for subtle environmental clues.
Initiating the A Test of Faith Stranger Quest
To begin the paleontological search, players must locate Deborah MacGuiness working at an excavation site in the Heartlands region of New Hanover. Speaking with her unlocks the stranger mission titled A Test of Faith, which prompts players to mail coordinates of discovered fossils. Sending back location updates via any local post office keeps the quest line progressing toward final completion.
It is best to start hunting for fossil sites early in your playthrough while exploring the open world. Many bone locations overlap with main story travel paths across New Hanover and Ambarino, making natural discovery straightforward during normal gameplay.
Locating Dinosaur Bones Across New Hanover and West Elizabeth
The majority of the dinosaur bones are embedded in rock faces, canyon walls, and dried riverbeds throughout the northern regions of the map. You can find several key specimens tucked inside the treacherous cliffs of Roanoke Ridge and the rolling hills of Lemoyne. Using the Eagle Eye ability helps highlight fossilized structures against the natural terrain from a comfortable distance.
As you venture toward West Elizabeth, additional bones lie hidden near Big Valley and Tall Trees. Finding these fossils requires careful cliff climbing and inspecting tight ravine passages that are easy to miss. Keeping a recorded list of inspected coordinates prevents back-tracking across expansive wilderness zones.
Exploring New Austin for Final Fossil Discoveries
Completing the fossil hunt requires accessing the southwestern territory of New Austin, which is restricted until reaching the main story epilogue. Eight distinct bone sites are scattered across the desert landscapes of Cholla Springs, Rio Bravo, Gaptooth Ridge, and Hennigan's Stead. Navigating these arid environments presents steep bluffs and hidden canyons where prehistoric remains rest undisturbed.
The protagonist can freely explore these desert regions without facing immediate law enforcement interference during late-game progression. Carefully surveying cliff edges and cave openings in New Austin guarantees you gather the final set of required coordinates.
Claiming All Quest Collection Rewards
Mailing fossil coordinates back to Deborah MacGuiness yields incremental rewards along the way, including unique crafting materials like the Quartz Lump. After all thirty dinosaur bone locations are successfully documented and mailed, players receive an invitation to visit Deborah's completed project at Firwood Rise. Visiting her cabin grants the ultimate reward, the Jawbone Knife, a unique melee weapon that adds prestige to your inventory.
Beyond tangible rewards, completing this collection contributes significantly toward achieving full completion status on your progress tracker. The quest blends rich world exploration with satisfying historical lore that highlights the impressive detail of the open world.
