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RDR2: Maps to find all 30 dinosaur bones

December 28, 2018
Updated: July 2, 2025 at 5:36 AM

RDR2: Maps to find all 30 dinosaur bones

Red Dead’s Stranger side missions will often take you on some fairly wild journeys and quests. In one such quest, A Test of Faith, paleontologist Deborah MacGuiness will task you with finding ancient dinosaur bones scattered across the map. Finding all 30 will net you some pretty sweet rewards, including the unique Jawbone Knife melee weapon. These bones are tough to find, but we’ve tracked down all 30 for you. Follow this guide, and you’ll have your hands on that knife in no time.

An important note: You cannot complete this quest until after beating the game, when the New Austin portions of the map are unlocked.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Where to find all the dinosaur bones

Bone 1: Van Horn Trading Post

red dead 2 dino bone van horn — Van Horn trading post bone location

red dead 2 van horn dino bone — Van Horn Trading post bone

You’ll find this bone to the northwest of the Van Horn Trading Post, in a cluster of trees atop a hill. As with all bones, using Eagle Eye will make the bone much easier to spot.

Bone 2: Roanoke Valley Cliff

red dead 2 roanoke valley cliff bone map — Roanoke Valley Cliff map

red dead 2 roanoke valley cliff bone — Roanoke Valley cliff bone

This bone perches atop a cliff overlooking a road to the north of the Roanoke Ridge Valley. Approach from the north, east, or south to get atop the cliff.

Bone 3: Elysian Pool

red dead 2 elysian pool bone map — Elysian Pool bone map

red dead 2 elysian pool bone — Elysian Pool bone

You’ll have to scale down a bunch of rocky cliffs north of the Elysian Pool to grab this one. It’s easier to leave your horse behind and make your way to this overhang on foot.

Bone 4: Roanoke Valley Border

red dead 2 roanoke valley border dino bone map — Roanoke Valley Border map

red dead 2 roanoke border bone — Roanoke Valley Border bone

To find this bone, head to the border between Ambarino and the Roanoke Valley. You’ll see it perched atop a low, rocky outcropping.

Bone 5: Grizzlies East Mountaintop

red dead 2 grizzlies east mountain bone map — Grizzlies East Mountain bone map

red dead 2 grizzlies east mountain bone — Grizzlies East mountaintop bone

This one is a bit tricky to get to. Circle behind the mountain from the north to find a path leading to the peak, where this bone is located. You won’t be able to make the climb from the southern side.

Bone 6: Grizzlies North Hilltop

red dead 2 grizzlies north map — Grizzlies North bone map

red dead 2 grizzlies north hilltop bone — Grizzlies North hilltop bone

You’ll find this bone due north of the previous one, atop a hill just off the northernmost path through the Grizzlies. It’s in a clearing and shouldn’t be hard to spot.

Bone 7: New Hanover Cabin

red dead 2 new hanover cabin bone map — New Hanover Cabin bone map

red dead 2 new hanover cabin bone — New Hanover cabin bone

This bone is easy to find because of the nearby cabin. Simply head to the cabin, then circle around to the back to find this bone.

Bone 8: Heartlands Oil Field

red dead 2 heartlands oil field bone map — Heartlands Oil Field bone map

red dead 2 heartlands oil field — Heartlands Oil Field bone

In the middle of the Heartlands Valley, it’s easy to spot this lone abandoned oil derrick. Climb down into the pit beneath it (pictured) to find this bone buried within.

Bone 9: Heartlands Gorge

red dead 2 heartlands gorge bone map — Heartlands Gorge bone map

red dead 2 heartlands gorge bone — Heartlands Gorge bone

Head due south from the oil derrick to find this bone tucked into a gorge. You might want to use Eagle Eye on this one, as it can be hard to spot.

Bone 10: Heartlands Southern Hill

red dead 2 heartlands hill bone map — Heartlands Hill bone map

red dead 2 heartlands hill bone — Heartlands Hill bone

Head south again from the Heartlands Gorge bone, and you’ll find the next bone sticking out like a sore thumb on this bright grassy hill.

Bone 11: Dewberry Creek North

red dead 2 dewberry creek north bone map — Dewberry Creek North bone map

red dead 2 dewberry creek north bone — Dewberry Creek North bone

The first of two bones located not far from each other in Dewberry Creek, this massive ribcage is easy to spot along the riverbank.

Bone 12: Dewberry Creek South

red dead 2 dewberry creek south map — Dewberry Creek south map

Head south along the creek from Bone 11 to find Bone 12 along the creekbed on the same side. They’re not far from each other and should be easy to spot.

Bone 13: Donner Falls

red dead 2 donner falls bone — Donner Falls bone

This bone sits on the slopes near Donner Falls. It’s absolutely massive, and should be easy enough to spot from afar.

Bone 14: Valentine North

red dead 2 valentine north bone map — Valentine North bone map

red dead 2 valentine north bone — Valentine North bone

Head northeast out of Valentine and you’ll come across this bone on top of a grassy hill.

Bone 15: Six Point Cabin

red dead 2 six point cabin bone map — Six Point Cabin bone map

red dead 2 six point cabin bone — Six Point Cabin bone

You’ll find this bone concealed in the forested cliffs surrounding Six Point Cabin.

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Bone 16: Dakota River Banks Cliff

red dead 2 dakota river cliff bone map — Dakota River Cliff bone map

red dead 2 dakota river cliff bone — Dakota River cliff bone

This bone is hidden in plain sight. From the cliff top, look down to find this bone sitting on a rocky outcropping. Drop down to get it.

Bone 17: Bacchus Station

red dead 2 bacchus station bone map — Bacchus Station bone map

red dead 2 bacchus station bone — Bacchus Station bone

This bone is located atop a rocky hill between Fort Mercer and Bacchus Station.

Bone 18: Mount Shann Slopes

red dead 2 mount shann slopes bone map — Mount Shann slopes bone map

red dead 2 mount shann slopes bone — Mount Shann slopes bone

This bone can be easily found just off the road that heads up Mount Shann. It does blend with the rocky cliffs somewhat, so don’t forget to use Eagle Eye to pinpoint it.

Bone 19: Watson’s Cabin

red dead 2 watson's cabin map — Watson’s Cabin bone map

From Watson’s Cabin, head into the wilderness and look for a cave at the spot marked above. Head into the cave to find the bone within.

Bone 20: Pronghorn Ranch South

red dead 2 pronghorn ranch south bone — Red Dead 2 Pronghorn Ranch south bone

This may be the easiest bone you’ll find. It’s sitting directly in the middle of the road up the mountain to the south of Pronghorn Ranch.

Bone 21: Dakota River South

red dead 2 dakota river south map — Dakota River south bone map

red dead 2 dakota river south bone — Dakota River south bone

You’ll see this bone embedded into a cliff alongside a path that follows the banks of the Dakota River.

Bone 22: Valentine South

red dead 2 cumberland forest south bone map — Cumberland Forest south bone map

Like a few other bones on this list, this one can be found in a cliffside along the Dakota River southeast of Valentine.

Bone 23: San Luis River

red dead 2 san luis river bone map — San Luis River bone map

red dead 2 san luis river bone — San Luis River bone

Head to the banks of the San Luis River south of MacFarlane’s Ranch for this one. If you spot a few ruined buildings, you’ll know you’re close.

Bone 24: Pike’s Basin

red dead 2 pike's basin bone map — Pike’s Basin bone map

red dead 2 pike's basin bone — Pike’s Basin bone

To find this bone, head east out of Armadillo into Pike’s Basin. The bone is in the northeastern section of the canyon, on an outcropping against the canyon wall.

Bone 25: Rio Bravo Mesa

red dead 2 rio bravo mesa bone map — Rio Bravo Mesa bone map

red dead 2 rio bravo mesa bone — Rio Bravo Mesa bone

This mesa is located to the south of Fort Mercer. To get on top, head at it from the eastern side and you should be able to ride your horse all the way to the bone’s location.

Bone 26: Cholla Springs North

red dead 2 cholla springs north map — Cholla Springs north bone map

red dead 2 cholla springs north bone — Cholla Springs north bone

This bone sits at the very northern edge of Cholla Springs, against the border of the map. Head north from Pleasance House to see this one embedded in the rocks.

Bone 27: Jorge’s Gap

red dead 2 jorge's gap bone map — Jorge’s Gap bone map

red dead 2 jorge's gap bone — Jorge’s Gap bone

This bone isn’t actually located in Jorge’s Gap, but rather on a hilltop next to it. It’s concealed in scrub grass, so you may want to use Eagle Eye to help find it.

Bone 28: Rio Del Lobo Rock

red dead 2 rio del lobo rock bone map — Rio del Lobo Rock map

red dead 2 rio del lobo rock bone — Rio del Lobo Rock bone

Ride to the top of Rio del Lobo Rock to find this bone, sitting in plain sight in the dirt.

Bone 29: Tumbleweed North

red dead 2 tumbleweed north bone map — Tumbleweed North bone map

The first of two bones in Tumbleweed, ride northwest and look for a path to the top of the mesa. This bone is located on the northern edge.

Bone 30: Tumbleweed South

red dead 2 tumbleweed south bone map — Tumbleweed South bone map

red dead 2 tumbleweed south bone — Tumbleweed South bone

To find the final bone, ride back into Tumbleweed and look for the windmill. Take the path near it to get atop the mesa, and then ride to the southern edge to find this bone.

Rewards:

red dead redemption 2 jawbone knife — The Jawbone Knife

To receive your rewards, you’ll need to head to the nearest post office and mail the bone locations back to MacGuiness. After 24 hours or so, you can head back to the post office to receive the following rewards:

1 bone: Quartz Chunk
15 bones: Skull Statue
30 bones: Jawbone Knife

The knife itself will be received after accepting MacGuiness’s invitation to her cabin, at which point she’ll present you with the knife. It’s a unique looking weapon with an obsidian blade, the perfect reward for a job well done.

Alex LaFreniere

Alex's first experience with video games came at the tender young age of 12, when his parents gave him and his brothers a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. They’ve probably been regretting that mistake ever since, because as soon he finished his first lap in Gran Turismo 3, Alex was hooked for life. In addition to writing for Softonic, Alex has turned that love of games into a voice acting career, and has voiced everything from grizzled old soldiers to vampire lords. When he's not gaming or getting behind the microphone, Alex can probably be found wandering the woods around Boston or putting together some new culinary delight in his kitchen.

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