When were the first dinosaur bones discovered?

Question

How did they know what animal the bones belonged to?

Answer 1

They were found in China thousands of years ago. They were believed to be the bones of dragons and were ground up to use as herbal medicines and aphrodisiacs.

Answer 2

The first dinosaur fossil found in the US was a thigh bone found by Dr. Caspar Wistar, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in 1787 (it has since been lost, but more fossils were later found in the area).