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Finding Dinosaur Bones in RDR2 | SteelSeries
Complete the RDR2 Dinosaur Bones quest with our guide on how to start 'A Test of Faith,' all 30 locations, and the rewards you’ll earn.
Wordsmith at SteelSeries. Enthusiastic about Dota 2 and fighting games. A cat dad.
In the open world of Red Dead Redemption 2, you can do many things. From hunting legendary animals to robbing trains, and… moonlight as an amateur paleontologist. The Dinosaur Bones side quest called “A Test of Faith” sends you scouring the frontier for 30 fossilized relics buried across the land.
We’re walking you through how to start the quest, where to find every set of bones, and showing you what rewards you’ll pocket along the way. Let’s get started.
To begin the quest, you need to meet the eccentric paleontologist who’s behind the hunt. The quest you’re looking for is called “A Test of Faith”, and it’s a Stranger mission that’s only available in Story Mode.
Here’s how to get started:
Travel to a small oil derrick site that’s just northeast of Flatneck Station in the Heartlands, New Hanover
The easiest way to spot it is by following the railway east of Flatneck Station until you see a wooden oil pump in the distance.
Coordinates (approx.): Lat: -71.5, Long: 62.0 (if using fan maps).
Approach the oil derrick and climb the ladder to the top.
Inside, you’ll meet Deborah MacGuiness, a passionate (and slightly scatterbrained) paleontologist who needs your help locating 30 dinosaur bones scattered across the map.
Deborah will give you a list of clues and ask you to send her the location of each bone you discover.
You don’t actually need to dig them up yourself. Instead, you “discover” them and mail the coordinates from the post office.
Once you’ve spoken to Deborah, you can start finding bones right away. But some bones can only be found in New Austin, which is only accessible later in the story (or via glitches if you so please).
If you’re the completionist type, you’ll need to wait until the epilogue to collect all 30.
Pro Tip: Use Eagle Eye (click L3 + R3 on console) whenever you’re in rocky areas or cliffsides — dinosaur bones are usually half-buried and easy to miss.
After beginning “A Test of Faith”, you can track down your bones in any order you’d like. There are 30 bones in total, scattered throughout just about every region on the map, from the very cold Ambarino peaks to the much warmer New Austin deserts.
Here are some tips to help you spot those bones:
Use Eagle Eye often
Activate Eagle Eye (L3 + R3 on console) to highlight the bone’s pale, fossilized outline against the environment. They won’t glow like collectibles, but Eagle Eye makes them stand out from the terrain.
Look for high or unusual terrain
Many bones are located on cliff edges, hilltops, or rocky outcrops, often requiring you to climb and search in less obvious areas.
Others may be found in caves, dry riverbeds, or hidden valleys. Keep in mind that they won’t always be on the main paths.
Check near landmarks
Bones are often close to notable features like waterfalls, rock formations, or abandoned structures.
Landmarks make great navigation markers when working from the mission’s vague clues.
Send in your discoveries
After finding a bone, Arthur will then sketch its location in his journal.
Head to any post office to mail off the coordinates to Deborah MacGuiness — you’ll get small rewards for partial progress and then the big prize for finding all 30.
Plan by region
To save time, clear bones in clusters. For example, sweep all of Cumberland Forest in one trip instead of chasing individual finds, going back and forth on the map.
Okay, bear with us because we’re getting into all 30 locations where you can find each set of bones. Here are all the locations by region:
Dakota River (South of Bacchus Station): From Bacchus Station, head south along the Dakota River. Look for a narrow cliff ledge — the bone is embedded in the rock wall overlooking the water.
Dewberry Creek (North): Ride east from Emerald Ranch until you hit Dewberry Creek. The bone is on the west bank, partially buried in the dirt slope.
Bacchus Station Hill: Head just west of Bacchus Station and climb the grassy hill. The bone rests in open terrain near the peak.
Caliban’s Seat: South of Valneitne, ride to Caliban’s Seat and climb the ridge right about the Dakota River. You can find the bone near the cliff’s edge.
Flatneck Station Hill: From Flatneck Station, head east toward a rocky rise. The bone will be lying exposed on the grassy slope.
Six Point Overlook: Go west from the overlook’s main path until you reach the cliff’s edge. The bone is tucked into the rock face.
Abandoned Shack (North of Heartland Overflow): Locate the dilapidated shack north of Heartland Overflow. The bone is just behind it.
Elysian Pool Overlook: Climb above the pool entrance on the northwest side to spot the bones among the rocks.
Bacchus Station South: From the station, head slightly south to a rocky outcrop. The bone is sitting right out in the open.
Horseshoe Overlook: From camp, head southwest to the edge of the cliff. There, the bone is half-buried in the dirt near a small tree.
Beryl’s Dream Cave: North of Beryl’s Dream, find the small cave entrance tucked into the hillside. The bone will be inside, illuminated by the natural light that spills in from the cave opening.
Wallace Station Cliff: Travel northwest from Wallace Station. Look for a rocky cliff with a narrow ledge—the bone is perched at the top.
Northern Cave: Far north in Big Valley, enter the cave system and follow it down to the chamber with the bone in the center.
Bear Claw Talisman Hill: Near the talisman crafting location, climb the nearby hill to find the bone among the grass and rocks.
Calumet Ravine: Go to the ravine’s west side and follow the cliff edge to spot the bone. Just be careful not to slip on your way over.
O’Creagh’s Run Hill: From the lake’s southeast shore, climb the hill. The bone is resting in the clearing overlooking the water.
Cumberland Falls Cliff: Find the cliff directly opposite the waterfall. The bone is visible from the top, but you may need to circle around to get access.
Grizzlies Rock Wall: This one’s embedded in a vertical rock wall. Use Eagle Eye to spot it. It’s easy to overlook without the highlight.
Dewberry Creek South: At the creek’s southern end, ride up the small rise. You’ll find the bone in the grassy patch on your way.
Oil Derrick Hill: Southwest of the derrick landmark, climb the hill until you reach a clear view of the structure below. The bone is nearby.
Rio Del Labo Rock: Head to the base of the Rio Del Labo Rock formation. The bone is resting at ground level on the south side, close to a large flat boulder. Try approaching from the east side to avoid the steep slopes.
San Luis River Cliff: At the bend of the San Luis River, west of Thieve’s Landing, find the tall cliff overlooking the river. Climb up the slope to find the bone on the flats near the edge.
Jorge’s Gap Ridge: From the western rim of Jorge’s Gap, ride along the ridge until reaching a narrow section that juts out toward the gap. The bone is sitting on this point.
Gaptooth Ridge (North of Tumbleweed): Follow the trail up into the east side of Gaptooth Ridge. The bone is embedded in the rock slope above the small ledge. Look for a lone desert tree as your marker.
Pike’s Basin Rock Ledge: From Pike’s Basin, head down from the eastern side and cross the central rock formation. Climb up the ledge partway up the formation, and you’ll see the bone lying flat on the stone.
Rattlesnake Hollow Ledge: From the hollow’s main path, climb the steep slope on the south side until reaching a rocky ledge overlooking the canyon. The bone is on the ledge.
Cholla Springs High Desert Plateau: In northern Cholla Springs, ride up onto the open plateau. The bone is in the middle of the flat terrain, surrounded by cacti.
San Luis River East Ridge: East of Rio Bravo, follow the river until you reach the high ridge above its eastern bank. Take the gentler slope on the south side up and you’ll find the bone of the ridge’s crest.
Kamassa River Bank: Follow the Kamassa River upstream along the western shore. Look for a narrow, rocky strip of bank. The bone is resting just above the waterline on a patch of dirt. It’s easy to pass if you’re galloping, so make sure to slow down and scan the ground closely.
Roanoke Valley High Ridge: From the main Roanoke Valley trail, head east toward the elevated ridges bordering the valley. Find the steep (but climbable) slope where the bone will be perched near the ride’s edge.
Note: The bones can be found in any order; you don’t need to follow this list exactly. We’ve organized them in a way that makes sense for travel efficiency.
Although tracking down all 30 sets of dinosaur bones in Red Dead Redemption 2 to help Deborah MacGuiness fulfill her paleontological dreams is all good and dandy, we know you’re really in it for the rewards.
Here’s what you can expect to pocket:
1 Bone Found—Quartz Chunk
Used to craft the Bear Claw Talisman, which gives a permanent bonus to your Health Core drain rate. You can craft it at a Fence once you also have a silver chain bracelet and a perfect bear claw.
All 30 Bones Found—Jawbone Knife
A one-of-a-kind melee weapon with a handle made from a fossilized jawbone. It’s more of a trophy than a power upgrade, but it’s a fantastic piece for any RDR2 weapons collection.
You’ll also gain a hefty Dead Eye XP boost when you collect your reward.
How to Claim Your Rewards:
After finding your first bone, mail the coordinates to Deborah at any post office. She’ll send your rewards back via mail after processing.
For the Jawbone Knife, you’ll receive a letter asking you to meet her again at the oil derrick — she’ll hand it over personally, along with some heartfelt thanks (and maybe a little eccentric rambling).
Tip: The Quartz Chunk reward is available as soon as you find and mail your first bone, but the Jawbone Knife can only be claimed after all 30 are found, meaning you’ll need access to New Austin in the epilogue to finish the set.
Hunting down all 30 dinosaur bones in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a test of patience, exploration, and sharp eyes. You’ll find yourself clambering up snowy ridges in Ambarino or crossing the dusty plateaus of New Austin, all in the name of completion. Every fossil you find gets you closer to a unique piece of RDR2 history (and a rather stylish Jawbone Knife).
Of course, spotting those half-buried relics is a lot easier when your controls are as precise as your aim. Upgrade your setup with a SteelSeries gaming mouse for pinpoint camera movement — because missing a dinosaur bone is almost as tragic as them going extinct in the first place.
Dinosaur bones are scattered across every region in Red Dead Redemption 2, from the Heartlands and Cumberland Forest to the deserts of New Austin. Many are hidden on cliff edges, inside caves, or near landmarks like rivers and rock formations. You can find them in any order after starting the Stranger mission “A Test of Faith.”
There are 30 dinosaur bones total in RDR2’s Story Mode. Some are in areas you can’t access until the epilogue, such as New Austin.
For your first bone, you’ll receive a Quartz Chunk (used to craft the Bear Claw Talisman). After finding all 30, you’ll be rewarded with the Jawbone Knife and a big Dead Eye XP boost.
Yes — you can discover and mark bones on your map before meeting Deborah MacGuiness, but you’ll still need to officially start “A Test of Faith” to send in the coordinates and get rewards.
No, dinosaur bones are exclusive to the single-player Story Mode. They are not collectible in Red Dead Online.