The American Museum of Natural History’s Second Asiatic Zoological
Expedition (1918-1919) was led by Roy Chapman Andrews. It can be considered as a
continuation of the preparatory work for the Central Asiatic Expeditions of
1921-1930. The main goal of the Second Expedition was to explore and collect
mammal and bird specimens from the northeastern region of the Asian plateau,
namely the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The specimens were to be used in the
Museum’s proposed hall of Asiatic life. Further, Andrews saw the expedition as
another step in his larger expeditionary plan.
The Central Asiatic Expeditions took place between 1921 and 1930, and were
led by Roy Chapman Andrews. Walter Granger was chief paleontologist and the
second in command. With a team of up to forty scientists, drivers, and
assistants, they were able to collect a vast multitude of objects for the
American Museum of Natural History and make many groundbreaking discoveries such
as the first dinosaur eggs. They explored throughout the Gobi Desert and
cemented this area as a prime location for paleontological study.