Cope and Marsh were financially and socially ruined by their attempts to disgrace each other , but their contributions to science and the field of paleontology were massive , and provided substantial material for further work -- both scientists left behind many unopened boxes of fossils after their deaths .
Cope and Marsh were financially and socially ruined by their attempts to disgrace each other . Their contributions to paleontology were massive , and provided plenty of material for later work : both scientists left behind many unopened boxes of fossils after their deaths .