 |
| Kathi & Lori at The Mammoth Site, South Dakota |
Today started as all Girls Weekend days start with coffee and computers on the couch. Kathi spent the morning grading papers for her Public Speaking class that she teaches at the University of Indianapolis, while I wrote up the blog entry for our Friday activities. It was quite windy today here in Rapid City as had been forecast so we had decided that we would like to spend the day at an indoor activity, so we headed to The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. When we pick our state for Girls Weekend and decide where we are going to stay, I like to do some research to look for interesting and unique things to do in that area. Well, it doesn't get much more unique than an active paleontological dig site and what a cool place!
The story behind this place is fascinating and it is amazing that the man who first discovered tusks and bones when bulldozing here stopped what he was doing because he realized that this was an important find. From their website:
"In June 1974, heavy equipment operator George Hanson was leveling ground for a Hot Springs housing development planned by land owner Phil Anderson. Hanson was grading a small hill when his blade struck something that shone white in the sunlight. Hanson got out for a closer look. What he saw was a tusk, about seven feet long, sliced in half length wise, along with other bones."
WOW!! Can you imagine? So, the first FOUR universities that the landowner approached WERE NOT INTERESTED in the find. The bulldozer operators' son had taken some geology and archaelogy classes at a university in Nebraska and he realized that the bones were something unusual so he took a sample to his former professor and asked him to come and take a look at the site and the rest is history. Turns out that this spot is an old sinkhole that filled with water that was 90-95 degrees and thirsty and curious male mammoths would jump in for a drink and a swim in the warm water then couldn't get back out due to the steep sides of the hole and met with their demise. Over time the sinkhole was covered over by layers of sediment which preserved the bones of the, at current count, 61 mammoths that died there, thus creating this truly amazing site.
There are the remains of 2 types of mammoths here. Woolly mammoths (of which there are only 2) and Columbian mammoths along with a couple of giant short-faced bears and a variety of other smaller mammals, insects and vegetation.
The decision was made to preserve most of the remains "in situ", meaning where they were found, which is why the site looks like it does. Because of the heat of the water in the sinkhole, all of the DNA and other elements were leached out of the bones, so they are very fragile.
The entire site has been enclosed in a climate controlled building in an effort to preserve the bones. They offer internship programs and learning opportunities for those interested in archaeology, paleontology and geology where participants can help in uncovering finds as well as studying those finds.
Admission includes a short video about the history of the how the sinkhole was first created, how and why the mammoths fell or voluntarily jumped in, and the discovery of the site, followed by a 30 minute guided tour. Once the tour is over, you are free to roam the site. It is a fascinating place and one I would recommend to anyone interested in history and extinct animals.
After wondering around here for about 2 hours, hunger drove Kathi and I back to our home away from home. On the hour drive back, we saw herds of bison and antelope. We got take-out from Everest Cuisine, an Indian restaurant in Rapid City and settled in for dinner and a little TV. Tonight we watched the first 2 episodes of "Bluff City Law".
I have also baked cookies from the cookie dough that we bought our first day here these past two evenings which has made for a delightful dessert!
For tomorrow the plan is to do Mt. Rushmore, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.
I have been forgetting to include our nightly tossing of the states. After tonight's toss these are the possibilities for next year: North Dakota, West Virginia and the other piece represents Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland.
The story behind this place is fascinating and it is amazing that the man who first discovered tusks and bones when bulldozing here stopped what he was doing because he realized that this was an important find. From their website:
"In June 1974, heavy equipment operator George Hanson was leveling ground for a Hot Springs housing development planned by land owner Phil Anderson. Hanson was grading a small hill when his blade struck something that shone white in the sunlight. Hanson got out for a closer look. What he saw was a tusk, about seven feet long, sliced in half length wise, along with other bones."
WOW!! Can you imagine? So, the first FOUR universities that the landowner approached WERE NOT INTERESTED in the find. The bulldozer operators' son had taken some geology and archaelogy classes at a university in Nebraska and he realized that the bones were something unusual so he took a sample to his former professor and asked him to come and take a look at the site and the rest is history. Turns out that this spot is an old sinkhole that filled with water that was 90-95 degrees and thirsty and curious male mammoths would jump in for a drink and a swim in the warm water then couldn't get back out due to the steep sides of the hole and met with their demise. Over time the sinkhole was covered over by layers of sediment which preserved the bones of the, at current count, 61 mammoths that died there, thus creating this truly amazing site.
 |
| A Columbian mammoth skull with tusks |
There are the remains of 2 types of mammoths here. Woolly mammoths (of which there are only 2) and Columbian mammoths along with a couple of giant short-faced bears and a variety of other smaller mammals, insects and vegetation.
The decision was made to preserve most of the remains "in situ", meaning where they were found, which is why the site looks like it does. Because of the heat of the water in the sinkhole, all of the DNA and other elements were leached out of the bones, so they are very fragile.
 |
| Woolly Mammoth skeleton |
 |
| Mammoth tusks |
Admission includes a short video about the history of the how the sinkhole was first created, how and why the mammoths fell or voluntarily jumped in, and the discovery of the site, followed by a 30 minute guided tour. Once the tour is over, you are free to roam the site. It is a fascinating place and one I would recommend to anyone interested in history and extinct animals.
After wondering around here for about 2 hours, hunger drove Kathi and I back to our home away from home. On the hour drive back, we saw herds of bison and antelope. We got take-out from Everest Cuisine, an Indian restaurant in Rapid City and settled in for dinner and a little TV. Tonight we watched the first 2 episodes of "Bluff City Law".
I have also baked cookies from the cookie dough that we bought our first day here these past two evenings which has made for a delightful dessert!
For tomorrow the plan is to do Mt. Rushmore, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.
I have been forgetting to include our nightly tossing of the states. After tonight's toss these are the possibilities for next year: North Dakota, West Virginia and the other piece represents Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland.
No comments:
Post a Comment